5G RAN Logical Site Mapping for Unified Layer 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 complexity in identifying failure points.
Innovation Solution
A management node that builds a logical site resource map representing topological information of cell sites, integrating physical infrastructure, container orchestration, and network function instances, providing a unified platform for monitoring and managing resources across these layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vendor management solutions are used across hardware, virtualization, and network function layers, then each layer can be managed with specialized tools, but the overall system complexity increases and issue diagnosis becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vendor management solutions into a single unified management platform that can handle hardware layer, virtualization layer, and network function layer resources. This consolidation reduces the number of separate tools needed while maintaining the specialized management capabilities for each layer through a common interface and centralized control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified management platform is designed to perform multiple functions across different layers and vendors through a single system. It provides universal resource management, monitoring, and diagnosis capabilities that work across hardware, virtualization, and network function layers, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools while maintaining adaptability to each layer's specific requirements.
2Device complexity
If a unified management platform is implemented across all layers, then system complexity is reduced and issue diagnosis is simplified, but the ability to handle vendor-specific requirements may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The unified management platform is segmented into distinct modules or layers, each responsible for managing specific vendor requirements and protocols. This segmentation allows the platform to maintain vendor-specific capabilities through dedicated components while presenting a simplified unified interface to users, effectively resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer or abstraction mechanism that translates between vendor-specific protocols and the unified management interface. This intermediary enables the platform to handle diverse vendor requirements without exposing their complexity to users, maintaining both simplicity and vendor-specific adaptability simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If manual monitoring and diagnosis methods are used across multiple layers, then detailed control is possible, but the time required to identify failure points increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The unified management platform implements automated feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor resources across all layers and immediately notify operators of issues. This feedback system eliminates manual checking while maintaining detailed control, significantly reducing diagnosis time through real-time monitoring and automated alerting that provides immediate information about failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform performs preliminary monitoring and diagnostic actions automatically before issues escalate. By continuously assessing system health and pre-identifying potential problems across hardware, virtualization, and network function layers, it reduces the time needed for actual issue diagnosis while maintaining detailed control through proactive rather than reactive management.
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.