5G Cell Site Resource Mapping for Cross-Layer RAN Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and diagnosing issues across the hardware, virtualization, and network function layers of 5G radio-access networks (RAN) is challenging due to the large number of cell sites and the use of different management solutions from various vendors, leading to inefficiencies and complexities in monitoring and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A management node that builds a logical site resource map using a site identifier to unify the management of hardware, virtualization, and network function layers, providing a single view for monitoring and managing cell sites, and enabling efficient resource deletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple vendor management solutions are used for hardware, virtualization, and network function layers, then each layer can be managed with specialized tools, but the overall system complexity and difficulty of unified monitoring increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple vendor-specific management solutions into a single unified management platform that can monitor and manage hardware layers, virtualization layers, and network function layers across different vendors through a common interface, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving specialized management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The management platform is designed with universal functionality to handle diverse management requirements across multiple layers and vendors, providing a multi-functional solution that replaces the need for separate specialized tools while maintaining the ability to manage each layer effectively
2Device complexity
If a unified management platform is implemented across all layers, then system complexity is reduced and monitoring is simplified, but the ability to deeply manage specialized functions of each layer may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The unified management platform segments management functions into modular components that can independently handle hardware layer, virtualization layer, and network function layer specific requirements, allowing deep specialized management while maintaining a simplified unified interface for overall system monitoring
3Ease of operation
If manual monitoring and diagnosis methods are used across multiple layers, then detailed control is possible, but the time required for issue detection and resolution increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The management platform implements automated feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor all layers and immediately alert operators to issues, enabling rapid issue detection while maintaining detailed control capabilities through automated diagnostics and structured feedback loops
4Adaptability or versatility
If resource deletion is performed without a unified view, then flexibility in resource management is maintained, but the risk of incomplete cleanup and operational errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management platform performs preliminary analysis and validation before resource deletion, automatically checking dependencies and cleanup requirements across all layers, thereby ensuring complete and safe resource deletion while maintaining management flexibility through configurable deletion policies
Data Source
AI summary
An example method for managing a cell site in a 5G RAN may include determining a physical infrastructure layer, a container orchestration platform on the physical infrastructure layer, and a CNF instance associated with the 5G RAN in the container orchestration platform based on a site identifier associated with the cell site. Based on the physical infrastructure layer, the container orchestration platform, and the CNF instance, the method may include building a logical site resource map representing topological information of the cell site. Further, the method may include monitoring and/or managing the cell site using the logical site resource map.