Cell Site Health Checks Using BOTs for Open RAN Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying cellular network components in a seamless manner to ensure integration, interoperability, performance, and reliability in 5G networks is challenging, requiring significant time and resources due to the complexity of Open RAN environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing automated health check techniques using BOTs to programmatically perform health checks and connectivity tests on cell site components, leveraging Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) for efficient deployment and management of network components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual health checks and connectivity tests are performed at cell sites, then comprehensive health verification is achieved, but significant time and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-diagnosis and health verification at cell sites through BOTs that autonomously perform connectivity tests and health checks without requiring manual technician intervention. The automated health check component locally executes tests and collects data, allowing the network infrastructure to self-verify its operational status.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical health check procedures are replaced with automated software-based BOTs that remotely execute health verification tasks. The physical presence of technicians is substituted with automated digital agents that perform connectivity tests, collect health data, and report status without human intervention.
2Reliability
If manual site visits are conducted for health checks, then direct component inspection is achieved, but deployment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-diagnosis and health verification at cell sites through BOTs that autonomously perform connectivity tests and health checks without requiring manual technician intervention. The automated health check component locally executes tests and collects data, allowing the network infrastructure to self-verify its operational status.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated health check component acts as an intermediary between the BOT and the cell site components. This intermediary locally executes health operations, collects health data, and reports status, eliminating the need for technicians to physically travel to each site while maintaining comprehensive inspection capabilities.
3Reliability
If traditional deployment methods are used for cell site components, then integration is achieved, but scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The automated health check system provides universal functionality that can be deployed across multiple cell sites and component types simultaneously. The BOT framework and health check component are designed to work with various network elements (radio units, distributed units, centralized units) through standardized interfaces, enabling scalable deployment across the entire 5G network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Health verification and connectivity tests are performed automatically as part of the deployment process itself, rather than as a separate subsequent step. The BOT executes health checks immediately upon component deployment, ensuring integration validation occurs in advance and enabling faster scaling without additional verification delays.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automating one or more health checks associated with a cell site is provided. An example method includes establishing, by one or more processors, a connection between a health check automation component and one or more components installed at a cell site; determining, by the one or more processors, to perform one or more health operations associated with the one or more components; causing, by the one or more processors, the one or more operations to execute; and obtaining, by the one or more processors, health data associated with the one or more components; wherein the health data includes data that identifies health information for the one or more components.