Near-RT RIC Assistance Services for E2 Node Compute Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing and optimizing radio access networks due to high computational loads and resource constraints, particularly in scenarios requiring near-real-time interventions, leading to suboptimal performance and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a RIC assistance service mechanism through the E2 interface, where a near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller (Near-RT RIC) provides computational assistance to E2 nodes by exposing RIC services, allowing for offloading compute-intensive tasks to lower-cost edge cloud platforms, thereby reducing local resource burdens and enhancing network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If computational tasks are processed locally at base stations, then real-time control capability is maintained, but computational load and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts computationally intensive tasks from the base station and relocates them to a cloud-based RIC (Radio Intelligent Controller). The base station retains only essential real-time control functions, while the RIC handles complex computations such as resource optimization, interference management, and network slicing, thereby reducing local computational load while preserving real-time responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The RIC acts as an intermediary between the base station and the core network. It receives data from the base station, performs complex computations and optimizations, then returns control decisions to the base station. This intermediary architecture allows the base station to maintain real-time control capability while offloading heavy computational tasks to the RIC.
2Productivity
If more processing power is added to base stations, then computational capability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts high-performance computing functions from the base station hardware and relocates them to the cloud-based RIC platform. This extraction allows base stations to maintain simpler, more cost-effective hardware configurations while still achieving high computational capability through the distributed RIC architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The RIC platform provides universal computational services that can be shared across multiple base stations. Instead of each base station requiring its own high-performance processing power, the RIC offers multi-functional computational capabilities that serve the entire network, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
3Productivity
If computational tasks are offloaded to cloud platforms, then resource utilization optimizes, but latency may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hierarchical architecture where time-critical functions remain localized at the base station with fast response times, while non-time-critical but computationally intensive functions are offloaded to the cloud-based RIC. This local quality differentiation ensures that latency-sensitive operations maintain low latency while resource utilization is optimized through cloud offloading.
Solution Approach 2:
The RIC performs preliminary computations and generates control decisions in advance based on predicted network conditions and historical data. These pre-computed decisions are then quickly executed by the base station when needed, reducing actual control latency while maintaining high resource utilization through the RIC's computational capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method comprising transmitting (401), from an E2 node (201) to a Near-RT RIC (210), a RIC assistance service request message comprising an indication of a RIC assistance service requested by the E2 node (201) from the Near-RT RIC (210), and receiving (404), by the E2 node from the Near-RT RIC (210), a RIC assistance service response message (403) comprising an indication of provision of the RIC assistance service by an internal application, xApp, and/or a platform service of the Near-RT RIC (210) to the E2 node (201).