Baseband Server Reallocation for Uninterrupted Carrier Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and operational burden of deploying baseband units (BBUs) in 5G networks due to the need for a denser deployment to compensate for shorter signal range and penetration, leading to underutilized units and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

Dynamic allocation and deallocation of server resources, including BBUs, based on demand, allowing load balancing and consolidation, with centralized and distributed units to manage user equipment sessions efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If baseband units are statically mapped to cellular radio units to provide 5G service coverage, then service coverage is improved, but deployment cost and operational burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic mapping between baseband units and cellular radio units, allowing the network to adapt resource allocation in real-time based on traffic demand. Baseband units can be dynamically assigned to different radio units and can be placed in sleep mode when not in use, transforming the static deployment model into a dynamic one that reduces both deployment complexity and operational burden while maintaining service coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a pool of baseband units that can serve multiple cellular radio units rather than being dedicated to a single unit. This multi-functional approach allows baseband units to be shared across different radio units based on demand, reducing the total number of baseband units needed and simplifying deployment while maintaining reliable service coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If baseband units are densely deployed to compensate for shorter signal range at higher frequencies, then service coverage is improved, but the number of baseband units increases leading to underutilization and higher energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power management for baseband units, where units can be activated or placed in sleep mode based on real-time traffic demand. During non-busy periods, baseband units are deactivated to reduce energy consumption, while during busy periods they are activated to maintain service coverage. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between providing adequate coverage and minimizing energy waste from underutilized units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables baseband units to be discarded (deactivated) during periods of low demand and recovered (reactivated) when demand increases. This allows the network to temporarily eliminate unnecessary energy consumption from idle baseband units while maintaining the capability to quickly restore service coverage when needed, effectively managing the trade-off between coverage and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Stability of the object's composition

If baseband units are statically mapped to cellular radio units, then service stability is improved, but adaptability to changing traffic demand decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice stabilityVSAvoiddemand adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces static mapping with dynamic mapping between baseband units and cellular radio units. The mapping relationships are continuously adjusted based on traffic demand, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining stable service. The dynamic nature ensures that service stability is preserved through consistent performance monitoring and adjustment, while simultaneously improving adaptability to varying traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor traffic demand and service performance, using this information to dynamically adjust the mapping between baseband units and cellular radio units. This feedback loop ensures service stability by detecting and correcting deviations from optimal performance while simultaneously improving adaptability by responding to changing traffic conditions in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12513092B2Uninterrupted transfer of carriers between baseband unit server resources

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Described is allocating and deallocating server instances (e.g., comprising baseband unit resources) of a distributed unit based on need for user equipment session handling. For example, when user equipment sessions load a server instance to a threshold capacity, an additional server instance can be allocated to handle new user equipment sessions. Any selected carrier subgroup, which can correspond to a cell's carriers, can be selected for assigning any newly incoming, unassigned user equipment sessions associated with the selected carrier subgroup to the newly allocated, additional server instance. As prior sessions end, the load decreases on the server that had reached the threshold capacity. When the total hub load decreases, deallocation of a no-longer used server instance can be performed. Deallocation can include transferring any remaining session, e.g., long-lasting sessions, to a different server instance. Load balancing and/or resource consolidation, without service interruption, is thus achievable within a hub.