Inter-DU Packet Forwarding for Seamless RU Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing dynamic scaling of resources to accommodate the increasing number of connected devices and varying traffic demands in 6G communication systems, particularly in the terahertz band, where signal transmission distance and coverage are critical issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a first distributed unit (DU) and a second DU, with an inter-DU interface, for dynamically managing resource allocation and migration of radio units (RUs) to optimize packet processing, including stopping and configuring resource allocation for uplink and downlink packets, and utilizing an operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) entity to identify and manage DU scaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic scaling of distributed units is implemented to accommodate varying traffic demands, then resource utilization and network efficiency are improved, but system complexity and interface management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scaling of distributed units (DUs) by enabling DUs to be dynamically instantiated, activated, and deactivated based on real-time traffic demands. The system transitions from static resource allocation to dynamic resource allocation, where DUs can be scaled in/out automatically响应 to load conditions, thereby improving resource utilization while adapting system complexity to actual needs rather than peak requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network into multiple independent distributed units that can be individually managed, scaled, and allocated to different radio units (RUs). This segmentation allows granular control over resource allocation, enabling the network to dynamically activate only the necessary DU instances required for current traffic demands, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high resource utilization.
2Productivity
If radio units are migrated between distributed units to balance load, then network efficiency is improved, but packet transmission reliability may be compromised during migration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions before RU migration by establishing forwarding relationships in advance. When an RU is migrated from a source DU to a target DU, the source DU is configured to forward packets destined for the migrated RU to the target DU before the migration is complete. This preliminary forwarding configuration ensures that packet transmission continues uninterrupted during the migration process, maintaining reliability while achieving load balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The source DU acts as an intermediary during the migration process, temporarily forwarding packets between the core network and the migrated RU. This intermediary forwarding mechanism ensures that the migrated RU can be seamlessly transferred between DUs without packet loss or transmission failures, maintaining reliability while improving network efficiency through load redistribution.
3Ease of manufacture
If resource allocation is stopped for uplink packets during RU migration, then migration is simplified, but transmission delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuity of useful action during RU migration by implementing packet forwarding mechanisms that ensure uninterrupted data flow. Instead of stopping resource allocation and breaking transmission during migration, the source DU continues to allocate resources and simultaneously forwards packets to the target DU, ensuring continuous transmission without delays while simplifying the migration process through automated forwarding rules.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, performed by a first distributed unit (DU), of performing communication in a wireless communication system may include performing, based on resource usage of the first DU, configuration of an inter-DU interface with a second DU requiring a connection with the first DU, obtaining information about at least one first radio unit (RU) to be migrated to the second DU from among at least one RU connected to the first DU, stopping resource allocation for at least one uplink packet associated with at least one user equipment (UE) connected to the first RU, and transmitting, based on the configured inter-DU interface, to the second DU, at least one downlink packet required to be transmitted to the first RU or the at least one UE.