CU-CP Selecting CU-UP via DU Connection Info
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication systems, the current method for selecting a centralized unit-user plane (CU-UP) can lead to failed UE access or increased access delays due to the CU-CP's lack of knowledge about the connection relationship between the DU and CU-UP, resulting in the selection of an unsuitable or overloaded CU-UP.
Innovation Solution
A method where the CU-CP acquires information about the available CU-UPs connected to the DU, allowing it to select a suitable CU-UP based on availability and load conditions, ensuring successful UE access with reduced delays by avoiding disconnected or overloaded units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the CU-CP selects a CU-UP without knowing the connection relationship between DU and CU-UP, then the selection process is simple, but the UE access may fail or experience increased delays
Solution Approach 1:
The DU transmits information about connected CU-UPs to the CU-CP in advance, before the UE access process begins. This preliminary action ensures that the CU-CP has up-to-date knowledge of which CU-UPs are connected and their load conditions, enabling reliable selection without adding complexity to the selection logic itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the DU continuously informs the CU-CP about the connection status and load conditions of CU-UPs. This feedback loop ensures the CU-CP always has current information for making optimal selection decisions, improving UE access reliability while maintaining simple selection procedures
2Speed
If the CU-CP selects any available CU-UP without considering load conditions, then the selection process is fast, but the selected CU-UP may be overloaded causing access delays
Solution Approach 1:
The DU provides information about CU-UP load conditions to the CU-CP in advance, before the access request arrives. This preliminary provision of load information allows the CU-CP to quickly identify suitable CU-UPs without performing complex real-time load analysis during the access process, thus maintaining fast selection speed while avoiding overloaded units
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically updates the CU-CP with current load conditions of CU-UPs through continuous feedback from the DU. This dynamic information allows the CU-CP to adapt its selection to current network conditions, directing traffic to underloaded CU-UPs and avoiding overloaded ones, thereby reducing access delays while maintaining fast selection
3Device complexity
If the CU-CP lacks information about connected CU-UPs, then the system architecture is simple, but unsuitable CU-UPs may be selected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (connection status and load conditions of CU-UPs) from the DU and provides it to the CU-CP. This selective extraction approach improves selection suitability by giving the CU-CP the specific information it needs without complicating the overall system architecture with unnecessary data or complex interconnections
Solution Approach 2:
The DU acts as an intermediary that collects information from multiple CU-UPs and selectively provides relevant information to the CU-CP. This intermediary role enables the CU-CP to make informed selection decisions about which CU-UPs are suitable for serving UEs, improving adaptability without requiring direct complex interactions between the CU-CP and all CU-UPs
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for operating a centralized unit-control plane (CU-CP). The method includes acquiring, by the CU-CP in a base station, information regarding at least one centralized unit-user plane (CU-UP) connected to a distributed unit (DU), and selecting, by the CU-CP, a CU-UP, among the at least one CU-UP, suitable for an access of a user equipment, according to the information regarding the at least one CU-UP connected to the DU.