Virtualized 5G RAN Sharing for Seamless DU Live Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G mobile networks face challenges in efficiently managing radio access networks (RAN) for seamless live migration and sharing without disrupting network traffic or causing disconnection of user equipment, especially in multi-vendor and multi-operator scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A virtualized RAN approach using edge-based cloud-computing to share 5G physical radio resources among different distributed units (DUs) is implemented, with an intelligent controller and IQ multiplexer dynamically allocating radio resources to minimize interference and ensure smooth handovers during live migration and sharing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a DU is migrated from one computing server to another, then network resource utilization is improved, but network traffic disruption and UE disconnection may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource utilizationVSAvoidnetwork traffic continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes forwarding rules at the IQ multiplexer before the DU migration occurs. The source DU's traffic is pre-configured to be forwarded to the destination DU, ensuring seamless transition without interruption to UE connections during the migration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The IQ multiplexer acts as an intermediary device that receives IQ samples from the radio unit and forwards them to the appropriate DU based on configured forwarding rules. During migration, it mediates between the source and destination DUs, ensuring continuous traffic flow without direct disruption to the radio unit or user equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If RAN resources are shared among multiple DUs, then resource efficiency is improved, but interference and resource allocation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidresource allocation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IQ multiplexer is designed as a universal resource that can serve multiple DUs simultaneously. It implements multi-functionality by dynamically switching and forwarding IQ samples to different DUs based on configured rules, enabling efficient resource sharing without requiring dedicated hardware for each DU

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic resource allocation where the IQ multiplexer can change forwarding rules in real-time based on traffic conditions and DU availability. This dynamic capability allows efficient resource sharing while managing complexity through software-based control rather than fixed hardware configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12556992B25G radio access network live migration and sharing

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A fifth generation (5G) mobile network radio access network (RAN) is virtualized for operations on edge computing platforms in a cloud-computing environment in which radio units (RUs) and radio frequency (RF) spectrum are shared among distributed units (DUs) to support use cases including: 1) live migration in which a DU is moved from one computing server to another without disruption to network traffic, and 2) RAN sharing in which two DUs share the same RU and spectrum.