Clustered Radio Access Network Node with Direct Memory Write
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing base station solutions, even in distributed configurations, face challenges with scalability, single points of failure, downtime during software upgrades, and high costs due to centralized processing protocols, which affect power efficiency and real-time requirements.
Innovation Solution
A clustered base station system is implemented, comprising interconnected sub-modules with processing units and memory, enabling remote direct memory write operations between sub-modules for distributed processing and data management, thereby enhancing scalability, availability, and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a centralized baseband module is used to handle baseband and control processing for multiple remote radio heads, then cost savings are achieved through shared digital processing, but scalability is limited and single points of failure are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized baseband module into multiple distributed baseband units (BBUs), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to scale by adding or removing individual BBUs without affecting the entire system, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining cost efficiency through shared remote radio heads.
2Device complexity
If a centralized baseband module is used, then device complexity is reduced through consolidation, but reliability decreases due to single points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the centralized baseband module into multiple distributed BBUs, the patent eliminates single points of failure. Each BBU can operate independently, so if one fails, the others continue to function, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables each BBU to have local processing capabilities and autonomy, allowing them to handle their own radio heads independently. This local quality approach improves reliability by distributing critical functions across multiple nodes rather than consolidating them in a single point of failure.
3Power
If centralized processing is used, then power efficiency is compromised due to inability to easily scale down, but processing capability is concentrated and manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management in distributed BBUs, where each unit can independently adjust its power consumption based on workload demands. This dynamic approach allows the system to scale power usage up or down by activating or deactivating individual BBUs, thereby improving power efficiency while maintaining necessary processing capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a radio access network node (200) for a wireless communication system, wherein the radio access network node (200) is configured to be implemented as a clustered system comprising a cluster of interconnected network node sub- moduies (210). Each network node sub-module (210) comprises a processing unit (212) and memory (214), and the memory (214) comprises a data structure. At least one of the network node sub-modules (210) is configured to manage at least one radio and/or antenna unit (220). The radio access network node (200) also has a communication mechanism for communication between the network node sub- modules (210), and the communication mechanism is configured to enable a direct memory write operation from at least one network node sub-module into the data structure of at least one other network node sub-module.