Fronthaul Router Cell Status Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network architectures, particularly in mobile network access, face challenges in Operations, Administration, Maintenance, Provisioning, and Troubleshooting (OAMPT) due to the complexity of packet-based fronthaul networks, where existing solutions lack integration of radio access network (RAN) status exposure to packet networks, leading to inefficiencies in management and troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A radio-aware transport system that integrates OAMPT capabilities by having applications on the packet network interface with a radio controller to collect and provide operational data, enabling the packet network to determine the status of radio cells and diagnose issues, thereby reducing the complexity of managing independent RAN and packet networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If RAN and packet networks are managed as independent networks, then each network can be managed with specialized protocols and procedures, but the overall system complexity increases and troubleshooting efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of RAN and packet networks by enabling the packet network to obtain and process RAN status information. The aggregation router is enhanced to collect cell status data from the RAN and generate unified status indications, combining previously separate management functions into an integrated system that reduces overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The aggregation router is given multi-functional capabilities, serving both as a packet network router and as a RAN status collection point. It performs traditional packet routing while simultaneously gathering cell status information, generating status indications, and enabling unified troubleshooting, making a single device responsible for multiple management functions.
2Reliability
If RAN status information is not exposed to the packet network, then network security and isolation are maintained, but troubleshooting time increases during outages
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregation router acts as an intermediary between the RAN and packet network. It collects RAN status information through dedicated interfaces, processes this information locally, and generates status indications that can be consumed by the packet network without direct exposure to RAN details, maintaining security while enabling fast troubleshooting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and processing RAN status information before outages occur. The aggregation router maintains up-to-date cell status data and can quickly generate status indications when needed, reducing troubleshooting time during actual outages by having information ready in advance.
3Loss of information
If the packet network directly interfaces with radio controllers to obtain operational data, then unified status monitoring is achieved, but network complexity and interface requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the RAN status information collection and processing functions from the direct RAN-packet network interface path. The aggregation router takes out the complexity of interfacing with radio controllers by implementing local status collection and processing, extracting only the essential status indications needed by the packet network while leaving detailed RAN interface complexity isolated at the aggregation router.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for a radio aware transport network. A network device obtains a first request for a status of one or more radio cells of a radio access network. The network device is configured to transmit radio traffic of the radio access network in a fronthaul packet network and is in communication with a radio controller that manages the one or more radio cells. The network device provides, to the radio controller, a second request for operational data related to the one or more radio cells. The second request is in a format specific to the radio controller. The network device obtains, from the radio controller, the operational data and determining the status of the one or more radio cells based on the operational data.