Radio communication system, communication control method, and computer program

Abstract

This radio communication system allocates an acceleration abstraction layer (AAL) profile instance defining a signal processing function of a base station of an O-RAN specification wireless access network on a per-user-terminal basis to a hardware accelerator.

Description

Wireless communication system, communication control method, and computer program

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a communication control method, and a computer program. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-161363, filed in Japan on September 18, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Alliance is exploring the open and intelligent nature of next-generation radio access networks, such as fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1-5). The O-RAN specifications developed by the O-RAN Alliance include, for example, a technology for assigning Acceleration Abstraction Layer (AAL) profile instances, which define the signal processing functions of base stations in a Radio Access Network (RAN), to hardware accelerators.

[0003] "O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer General Aspects and Principles 9.0", O-RAN.WG6.AAL-GAnP-R003-v09.00, June 2024 "O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer High-PHY Profiles 6.0", O-RAN.WG6.AAL-HI_PHY-R003-v06.00, June 2024 "O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer AAL Profile - MUMIMO Precoder / BeamFormer Calculation 1.0", O-RAN.WG6.AAL-MUMIMO-BF-Calc-Profile-v01.00, July 2022 "O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer FEC Profiles 3.0", O-RAN.WG6.AAL-FEC.0-v03.00, October 2022 "O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer Common API 7.0", O-RAN.WG6.AAL-Common-API-R003-v07.00, June 2024

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional O-RAN specifications, the AAL profile instance is uniformly defined for all user terminals (User Equipment: UE) connected to the base station. Therefore, since it is necessary to allocate the AAL profile instance to a large-scale HW accelerator that can process the maximum number of UEs that the base station can connect simultaneously, there is a problem that the utilization efficiency of the HW accelerator is poor when the number of UEs actually connected to the base station is small.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its object is to improve the utilization efficiency of the HW accelerator.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication system that assigns an AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instance, which defines the signal processing functions of a base station of an O-RAN specification wireless access network on a per-user terminal basis, to a hardware accelerator. Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication system in which, in the above wireless communication system, AALI-C-App (AAL Interface-Common-Application), which is an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation, has a procedure relating to the AAL profile instance. Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication system in which, in the above wireless communication system, AALI-P (AAL Interface-Profile), which is an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation, has a procedure relating to the AAL profile instance. Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication system in which, in the above wireless communication system, the procedure relating to the AAL profile instance includes a procedure for specifying the user terminal to which the AAL profile instance is applied. Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication system in which, in the above wireless communication system, the procedure relating to the AAL profile instance includes a procedure for specifying a list of identifiers of the user terminals to which the AAL profile instance is applied.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a communication control method performed by a wireless communication system, which involves assigning an AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instance, which defines the signal processing functions of a base station of an O-RAN specification wireless access network on a per-user terminal basis, to a hardware accelerator.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer in a wireless communication system to perform the step of assigning an AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instance, which defines the signal processing functions of a base station of a wireless access network conforming to the O-RAN specification, to a hardware accelerator.

[0009] According to the present invention, the effect of improving the utilization efficiency of the hardware accelerator can be obtained.

[0010] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a DU (Duration Unit) of a base station of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing the AAL architecture of the O-RAN specification according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing an example definition of a UE list according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing an example of the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing another example of the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" according to one embodiment.

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a Distributed Unit (DU) of a base station of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. The DU 10 is a device that mainly has signal processing functions such as modulation, demodulation, and coding of digital signals, among the base station functions of an O-RAN specification Radio Access Network (RAN). An O-RAN specification RAN base station mainly consists of a DU, a Radio Unit (RU) that has the function of handling radio frequency (RF) between the antenna and the terminal, and a Central Unit (CU) that controls the RU and DU and connects to the core network.

[0012] DU10 comprises an AAL Application 11 and a HW Accelerator Physical Unit 12. The number of HW Accelerator Physical Units 12 provided in DU10 is determined by factors such as the desired processing capacity for DU10 (e.g., the maximum number of UEs that can be simultaneously connected to the base station) and limitations on the equipment costs of DU10.

[0013] The AAL application 11 includes a queue that holds AAL Profile Instances 111 and an AAL Logical Processing Unit (AAL-LPU) 112 that processes the AAL Profile Instances 111. The AAL-LPU 112 is a logical hardware accelerator implemented by a hardware accelerator physical unit 12.

[0014] The AAL profile instance 111 according to this embodiment defines the signal processing function of the RAN base station in the O-RAN specification on a per-UE (User Terminal) basis. For example, the AAL profile instance 111 may be defined for one UE, or it may be defined for multiple UEs.

[0015] In the example shown in Figure 1, AAL profile instances 111 are defined for each of the three UEs (UE1, UE2, and UE3). Specifically, AAL profile instance 111-1 is defined for UE1, AAL profile instance 111-2 is defined for UE2, and AAL profile instance 111-3 is defined for UE3.

[0016] DU10 assigns AAL profile instances 111, which define the signal processing functions of the RAN base station in the O-RAN specification on a UE-by-UE basis, to the HW accelerator. In the example in Figure 1, DU10 assigns AAL profile instances 111-1, 111-2, and 111-3 for each UE1, 2, and 3 to the HW accelerator. As a result, HW accelerator physical unit 12-1 is assigned to AAL profile instance 111-1 of UE1, HW accelerator physical unit 12-2 is assigned to AAL profile instance 111-2 of UE2, and HW accelerator physical unit 12-3 is assigned to AAL profile instance 111-3 of UE3.

[0017] As a result, the HW accelerator physical unit 12-1 assigned to the AAL profile instance 111-1 of UE1 realizes the AAL-LPU 112-1 that executes the AAL profile instance 111-1 of UE1. Similarly, the HW accelerator physical unit 12-2 assigned to the AAL profile instance 111-2 of UE2 realizes the AAL-LPU 112-2 that executes the AAL profile instance 111-2 of UE2. Furthermore, the HW accelerator physical unit 12-3 assigned to the AAL profile instance 111-3 of UE3 realizes the AAL-LPU 112-3 that executes the AAL profile instance 111-3 of UE3.

[0018] As described above, by assigning an AAL profile instance 111, which defines the signal processing function of the RAN base station in the O-RAN specification on a UE basis, to the HW accelerator, the utilization efficiency of the HW accelerator can be improved. For example, if the connection of UE3 to the base station is disconnected, power consumption can be reduced by stopping (powering off) only the unnecessary HW accelerator physical unit 12-3. In addition, since the HW accelerator physical unit 12 can be added or removed on a unit basis, it is possible to smoothly respond to changes in the desired processing capacity for the DU10, and the scalability of the DU10 is improved.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the O-RAN specification AAL architecture according to this embodiment. The O-RAN specification AAL architecture shown in Figure 2 is described, for example, in Non-Patent Document 1.

[0020] In this embodiment, the interface between the AAL application and the AAL implementation includes a procedure relating to the AAL profile instance 111. This procedure relating to the AAL profile instance 111 includes a procedure for specifying the target UE of the AAL profile instance 111. Examples 1 and 2 of this interface are given below.

[0021] (Example 1 of an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation) Example 1 of an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation is the AALI-C-App (AAL Interface-Common-Application), indicated by the symbol IF1 in Figure 2. The AALI-C-App is an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation for management and orchestration within the O-Cloud (O-RAN Cloud Platform). The AALI-C-App is independent of the AAL profile.

[0022] (Example 2 of the interface between AAL application and AAL implementation) Example 2 of the interface between AAL application and AAL implementation is AALI-P (AAL Interface-Profile), indicated by the symbol IF2 in Figure 2. AALI-P is an interface specific to the selected AAL profile.

[0023] Figure 3 shows an example of a UE list definition according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, in the O-RAN specification AAL architecture shown in Figure 2, the target UEs of the AAL profile instance 111 are specified by specifying a list of UE identifiers (UE-IDs) in the AAL profile configuration.

[0024] Figure 3 shows an example definition when using a list of UE-IDs as the UE list for downlinks (DL). For example, one could add the definition of the downlink UE-ID list shown in Figure 3 to "6.2.2b Summary of Configuration" of "6.2 O-DU AAL_DOWNLINK_High-PHY Profile Specification" in Non-Patent Literature 2. For uplinks (UL), a similar definition example can be added to "6.3.2b Summary of Configuration" of "6.3 O-DU AAL_UPLINK_High-PHY Profile Specification" to represent the downlink UE-ID list.

[0025] Figure 4 shows an example of the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" according to this embodiment. The "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" in Figure 4 is described, for example, in Non-Patent Document 5. The "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" is a procedure in AALI-C-App, indicated by symbol IF1 in the AAL architecture of the O-RAN specification shown in Figure 2 above.

[0026] When using the above-described interface example 1 "AALI-C-App" as an interface having a procedure for specifying the target UE of the AAL profile instance 111, as an example of this embodiment, in step S7 "setAalProfileInstanceConfig" in the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" of Figure 4, the AAL application specifies a list of UE-IDs of the target UE of the AAL profile instance 111 to the AAL implementation.

[0027] Figure 5 shows another example of the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" according to this embodiment. In the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" of Figure 5, in addition to the "AALI-C-App API Init Sequence" of Figure 4 described above, a subsequent step S20 is added.

[0028] When using the above-described interface example 2 "AALI-P" as an interface having a procedure for specifying the target UE of the AAL profile instance 111, as an example of this embodiment, in step S20 of Figure 5, the AAL application specifies a list of UE-IDs of the target UE of the AAL profile instance 111 to the AAL implementation.

[0029] According to the above-described embodiment, the effect of improving the utilization efficiency of the hardware accelerator can be obtained.

[0030] Furthermore, this will enable improvements in overall service quality, such as in wireless communication networks, and will contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0031] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like are also included within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0032] For example, a computer program to realize the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" here may include hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to writable non-volatile memory such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and flash memory, portable media such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), and storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system.

[0033] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" includes volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within a computer system that acts as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, which retains the program for a certain period of time. In addition, the above program may be transmitted from the computer system that stores the program in a storage device, etc., to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Furthermore, the above program may be for the purpose of realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. In addition, it may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0034] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the hardware accelerator.

[0035] 10...DU, 11...AAL Application, 12...HW Accelerator Physical Unit, 111...AAL Profile Instance, 112...AAL-LPU

Claims

1. A wireless communication system that assigns AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instances, which define the signal processing functions of base stations in an O-RAN-compliant wireless access network on a per-user terminal basis, to a hardware accelerator.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the AALI-C-App (AAL Interface-Common-Application), which is an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation, has procedures relating to the AAL profile instance.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein AALI-P (AAL Interface-Profile), which is an interface between an AAL application and an AAL implementation, has procedures relating to the AAL profile instance.

4. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the procedure relating to the AAL profile instance includes a procedure for specifying the user terminal to which the AAL profile instance is intended.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the procedure relating to the AAL profile instance includes a procedure specifying a list of identifiers of user terminals to which the AAL profile instance pertains.

6. A communication control method performed by a wireless communication system, comprising assigning an AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instance, which defines the signal processing functions of a base station of an O-RAN specification wireless access network on a per-user terminal basis, to a hardware accelerator.

7. A computer program that causes a wireless communication system computer to perform the step of assigning an AAL (Acceleration Abstraction Layer) profile instance, which defines the signal processing functions of a base station of an O-RAN specification wireless access network on a per-user terminal basis, to a hardware accelerator.

Images