Modular Network Orchestrator for Scalable RAN Failover
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications networks face challenges in scaling speed and throughput, particularly in virtualization environments, due to complex network designs and proprietary hardware platforms that limit flexibility and scalability, while requiring high-bandwidth links for redundancy and complex network topologies.
Innovation Solution
A scalable network orchestrator system with modular components including management, control plane, data plane, and load balancer functions, utilizing a distributed in-memory database for state management, and enabling N+1 redundancy and horizontal scaling across virtual machines or physical servers, with minimal design assumptions on underlying platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary hardware platforms and complex network designs are used, then network functionality and reliability are improved, but scalability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network functions into separate virtualized components (management module, control plane module, data plane module, load balancer) that can be independently deployed, scaled, and managed on standard hardware platforms, eliminating the need for proprietary integrated systems while maintaining reliability through modular redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The orchestrator system is designed to be platform-agnostic and hardware-independent, enabling the same software-based network functions to run on diverse standard hardware platforms and virtualization environments, thereby achieving universal deployment flexibility without sacrificing network reliability through abstracted resource management
2Reliability
If N+1 redundancy is implemented, then system reliability is improved, but network complexity and bandwidth requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements N+1 redundancy by creating virtual copies of network function modules (control plane, data plane, management) that can be rapidly instantiated and activated. These virtual copies serve as standby resources that can assume workload without requiring complex physical hardware redundancy or high-bandwidth synchronization links
Solution Approach 2:
The load balancer acts as an intermediary that manages traffic distribution and failover between redundant network function instances. It abstracts the complexity of redundancy management from the underlying network functions, providing simple health monitoring and traffic routing that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtualization is adopted, then scalability and upgradeability are improved, but network I/O and CPU requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple network function virtualization instances onto shared physical infrastructure with pooled computing and networking resources. This consolidation reduces total network I/O and CPU requirements compared to dedicated hardware for each function, while maintaining scalability through dynamic resource allocation and upgradeability through software updates
Solution Approach 2:
The orchestrator implements dynamic resource management that adapts CPU and network I/O allocation based on actual workload demands. Resources are dynamically assigned to virtualized network functions as needed, allowing the system to scale efficiently without over-provisioning hardware resources, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining scalability
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a scalable network orchestrator for orchestrating a radio access network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed, comprising: a management module for performing system management functions, a control plane processing module for performing radio access coordination functions and user mobile device coordination functions, a data plane processing module for receiving user mobile device data and forwarding the user mobile device data to the user mobile device or to a mobile operator core network, and for decrypting, demultiplexing and forwarding system management traffic to the management module or control plane processing module; a load balancer for receiving and directing traffic; and an interconnect medium coupled to each of these modules and providing point-to-point connectivity for each coupled module, wherein the at least one management module is configured to support addition, subtraction, and failover of load balancers, control plane processing modules, and data plane processing modules.