Base Station Resource Pooling for Multi-Operator RAN Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access network (RAN) sharing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing communication bandwidth resources among multiple network operators, leading to increased system load without corresponding capacity increases, which affects network performance.
Innovation Solution
A base station is designed to allocate communication bandwidth resources into virtual pools, prioritizing resource allocation based on reserved proportions for each network operator, using scheduling priorities and exclusion mechanisms to ensure fair resource distribution and maximize usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If RAN sharing is implemented among multiple operators, then capital expenditure and operating costs are reduced, but system load increases without corresponding capacity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total communication bandwidth into multiple virtual resource pools, each with reserved proportions for different network operators. This segmentation allows fair distribution of limited resources among multiple operators sharing the same RAN infrastructure, enabling the system to handle increased load from multiple operators without requiring additional base stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station scheduler adjusts resource distribution in real-time based on current system load, operator priorities, and service requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions and maintain optimal performance despite the constrained number of base stations.
2Quantity of substance
If communication bandwidth is shared among multiple operators without virtual resource pools, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but resource allocation fairness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes reserved proportions for each network operator in advance within each virtual resource pool. These pre-defined reservations ensure that each operator guarantees a minimum level of resource access regardless of overall system load or other operators' demands, thereby maintaining allocation fairness without requiring complex real-time negotiations or additional infrastructure.
3Quantity of substance
If base stations are reduced through RAN sharing, then operating costs and energy consumption are reduced, but network performance deteriorates under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station scheduler continuously monitors resource usage, system load, and performance metrics. Based on this feedback, the scheduler dynamically adjusts resource allocation within virtual pools to prevent performance degradation, ensuring that network reliability is maintained even with a reduced number of base stations handling increased traffic from multiple operators.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless telecommunication system is described comprising a shared base station able to divide resources between multiple network operators sharing the base station. The base station resources are divided into resource pools having their own set of sharing rules and associated scheduling method that may be configured independently for each resource pool. A number of techniques are described that may be used to ensure flexibility and fairness of access to the base station resources for the multiple network operators.