FM-PM Microservice Failover for O-RAN Availability

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fault and performance management microservices in 5G O-RAN systems face availability issues, leading to delayed processing and downtime, which can impact overall network functionality and user experience, especially when resources are constrained.

Innovation Solution

Integrate standby Fault Management (FM) microservice functionality into Performance Management (PM) MS and vice versa, allowing one to handle the functions of the other in case of availability issues, using a decision agent to reroute data to the standby microservice for processing and reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate standby microservices are deployed for Fault Management and Performance Management, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroservice availabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines Fault Management and Performance Management microservices into a single multi-functional microservice. This microservice can dynamically switch between handling FM tasks, PM tasks, or both simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate standby microservices while maintaining high availability through internal task routing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal microservice that performs multiple functions - it can handle both Fault Management and Performance Management operations. This multi-functional approach allows a single microservice instance to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized microservices, reducing system complexity while preserving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate standby microservices are deployed for Fault Management and Performance Management, then system reliability is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroservice availabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines Fault Management and Performance Management microservices into a single multi-functional microservice. This microservice can dynamically switch between handling FM tasks, PM tasks, or both simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate standby microservices while maintaining high availability through internal task routing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal microservice that performs multiple functions - it can handle both Fault Management and Performance Management operations. This multi-functional approach allows a single microservice instance to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized microservices, reducing resource consumption while preserving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If microservices are consolidated to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but system reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidmicroservice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic microservice architecture where a single multi-functional microservice can adapt its behavior based on operational needs. It can dynamically route tasks between FM and PM functions, and can be scaled or replicated as needed, providing both simplicity and reliability through flexible resource allocation rather than static redundant structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12513041B2High availability of performance management and fault management microservices

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 RAKUTEN SYMPHONY INC

AI summary

A method and system for providing high availability of Fault Management (FM) microservice (MS) and Performance Management (PM) MS functionalities in a Radio Access Network (RAN) Network Function (NF). The method includes: determining whether there is an availability issue in a first microservice (MS), the first MS being one of an FM MS and a PM MS; based on determining that there is the availability issue, providing performance or event data, reported by at least one other MS of the NF for the first MS, to a second MS, the second MS being the other of the FM MS and the PM MS; and processing, by the second MS, the data and reporting, from the second MS to a northbound management system (NBMS), the processed data.