Cloud Network Control Plane for Distributed Antenna System Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Distributed Antenna System (DAS) controllers face limitations in scalability and management due to hardware-specific software requirements and limited processing resources, making it difficult to implement new protocols and handle increasing RF traffic demands across multiple installations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cloud network for the DAS control plane, separating it from the user plane and using a high-level protocol interface for communication, allowing the control plane to be virtualized and executed in a cloud environment, which abstracts hardware-specific commands and enables scalable management of multiple DAS installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hardware-specific software is used in DAS controllers, then the system can directly interface with DAS hardware electronics, but the scalability and ability to implement new protocols are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DAS controller into two distinct planes: the control plane (implemented in cloud infrastructure) and the user plane (implemented in DAS hardware). This separation allows the control plane to be hardware-agnostic and highly adaptable to new protocols, while the user plane handles hardware-specific operations. The control plane can be independently updated and scaled without affecting the hardware layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an abstraction layer between the control plane and user plane that acts as an intermediary. This abstraction layer translates hardware-specific commands into standardized protocols, enabling the control plane to implement new protocols and standards without direct hardware dependencies. The intermediary layer handles the complexity of hardware interfacing while presenting a simplified, adaptable interface to the control plane.
2Productivity
If control plane functions are implemented on DAS hardware, then processing can be done locally, but processing resources are limited and scalability is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the control plane from the traditional hardware dimension to a cloud-based dimension, enabling scalability beyond physical hardware constraints. The control plane is implemented in virtualized environments that can be dynamically scaled by allocating additional computing resources in the cloud, allowing the system to handle increasing RF traffic demands without being limited by fixed hardware processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal control plane implementation that can serve multiple DAS installations and hardware configurations through cloud-based virtualization. A single control plane instance can be replicated and scaled to manage multiple sites, and the same control plane software can adapt to different hardware platforms through the abstraction layer, providing multi-functionality and eliminating the need for separate hardware-specific control planes at each location.
3Ease of operation
If multiple DAS installations use hardware-specific controllers, then each installation can be controlled locally, but operators must maintain familiarity with multiple software interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control plane that provides a single, standardized interface for managing multiple DAS installations. Operators interact with a consistent cloud-based control plane that abstracts away hardware-specific details, allowing them to manage diverse DAS deployments through one unified interface rather than learning multiple hardware-specific software systems. The abstraction layer ensures uniform command and control across all installations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Cloud network implementations for a distributed antenna system (DAS) control plane are provided. In one embodiment, a DAS architecture comprises: a DAS cloud computing network; a first DAS comprising a first user plane, wherein the first user plane includes uplink circuity and downlink circuity, wherein the uplink circuity forwards uplink radio frequency traffic from at least one remote antenna unit to a master unit, wherein the downlink circuity forwards downlink radio frequency traffic from the master unit to the at least one remote antenna unit; wherein the DAS cloud computing network comprises a control plane in communication with the user plane through a network; the first user plane comprises a high level protocol interface abstraction layer coupled to the network and processes and forwards the uplink and downlink radio frequency traffic based on configuration commands received from the control plane via the high level protocol interface abstraction layer.