DAS Fronthaul Packet Layout for Fixed-Latency Time-Domain Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed antenna systems (DAS) face challenges in efficiently communicating time-domain digital data over switched Ethernet networks, particularly due to latency issues and complexity related to framing and packet formation, especially when using the O-RAN fronthaul interface designed for frequency-domain data.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a DAS configuration that includes a donor card, radio units, and a switched Ethernet network, where time-domain digital data is communicated in packets with fixed latency, and fractional resamplers are used to adjust the re-sampling ratio based on carrier bandwidth, along with an intermediate combining node to fragment and combine O-RAN data with time-domain data, optimizing packet layout templates for efficient data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the O-RAN fronthaul interface is used to communicate time-domain data, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but framing and packet formation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate combining node that acts as a mediator between the O-RAN fronthaul interface and the time-domain data transport. This node performs the complex framing and packet formation operations, shielding the rest of the system from this complexity while enabling efficient bandwidth usage through O-RAN's frequency-domain optimized interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the framing and packet formation complexity into a separate functional entity (the intermediate combining node), separating it from the main data transport path. This allows the O-RAN interface to be used for efficient bandwidth utilization while the complexity is handled by a dedicated component
2Use of energy by moving object
If variable packet sizes are used to optimize bandwidth, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but latency becomes variable and increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the packet size parameter from variable to fixed, establishing a constant packet size that is optimized to provide consistent latency performance. This fixed packet size is determined based on the maximum expected data rate, ensuring that latency remains bounded and predictable while still achieving good bandwidth efficiency through the O-RAN interface
3Loss of time
If fixed latency is maintained independent of carrier bandwidth, then latency predictability improves, but packet efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the fixed packet size based on carrier bandwidth conditions. The system maintains fixed latency by adjusting the packet size parameter dynamically, allowing optimal packet efficiency for different bandwidth conditions while ensuring latency remains predictable and bounded through the fixed-time transmission approach
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for diminishing latency in a DAS fronthaul network configured to convey time-domain transport data, e.g., time-domain digital transport data or time-domain digital data. Other techniques are provided for obtaining higher DAS fronthaul efficiency.