Distributed Unit Allocation in 5G Radio Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G cellular wireless communication systems require high-density deployment due to shorter signal range and higher frequency dissipation, leading to significant capital and operational costs, particularly due to unnecessary and underutilized baseband units.
Innovation Solution
Disaggregating baseband units into High physical layer (L1) and Low physical layer functions, with software-defined distributed units activated only as needed, reducing the need for full-fledged baseband units and conserving resources by broadcasting control information only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full-fledged baseband units are deployed in all service areas, then service coverage is ensured, but operational costs and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The baseband unit is segmented into control plane functions and user plane functions. The control plane function remains active to maintain service coverage, while the user plane function is deactivated when no users are present, reducing operational costs and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The baseband unit transitions between different operational states (active and inactive) based on real-time service demand. This dynamic state adjustment allows the system to maintain coverage reliability while optimizing energy consumption by activating full functionality only when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If baseband units are overprovisioned in anticipation of growing demand, then future service capacity is ensured, but capital investment increases and resources remain underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
By separating control plane and user plane functions, the system can provision minimal control plane capacity upfront while user plane capacity is activated on-demand, reducing initial capital investment while maintaining adaptability to future demand growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane function serves multiple purposes: it maintains service coverage, manages baseband unit states, and coordinates user plane activation. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to varying demand levels without requiring proportional capital investment in dedicated hardware for each function.
3Reliability
If high-density deployment is implemented, then service coverage is improved, but operational cost particularly energy cost rises sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of baseband unit functions enables selective activation of only the control plane in high-density deployment scenarios, maintaining service coverage while dramatically reducing the energy consumption per baseband unit compared to keeping full functionality active at all locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different operational modes are applied to different baseband units based on local service demand. In areas with low or no current demand, only the control plane remains active with minimal energy consumption, while full functionality is activated locally only where and when users are present.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology is directed towards associating a distributed unit (a baseband function) with a radio unit, corresponding to a service area, when the radio unit transitions from an idle state to an active state with respect to serving user equipment. When an idle radio unit receives a message requesting connection from a formerly idle user equipment, or user equipment to be served due to a handover, the message triggers assignment of a distributed unit to the radio unit, whereby the radio unit becomes active to serve the user equipment. If insufficient distributed unit capacity exists, a new distributed unit is dynamically instantiated and assigned to the radio unit. When a radio unit transitions from active to idle, the radio unit is disassociated from the distributed unit. If a distributed unit is not associated with any radio unit, the distributed unit is deactivated to reduce resource consumption.