Network Function Codelets for Standardized Message Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Open RAN architecture faces challenges in flexible data collection for monitoring and telemetry applications, with high volumes of telemetry data straining compute and network capacity, and real-time control operations requiring tight time constraints, while interoperability issues arise due to different vendor interpretations of standardized messages, leading to performance degradation and costly engineering fixes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a message compatibility codelet that is dynamically loaded at a hook point within network functions to detect and modify incompatible messages, ensuring compatibility with local configurations, thereby resolving interoperability issues with low latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a virtualized RAN uses generic computing resources, then scalability and fault tolerance are improved, but interoperability issues arise due to different vendor interpretations of standardized messages

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidinteroperability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message compatibility codelet as an intermediary component that sits between the standardized message interface and the local network function implementation. This codelet acts as a mediator that translates or adapts standardized messages to match local configuration variations, thereby resolving interoperability issues while preserving the benefits of virtualized generic computing resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically modifies message parameters at runtime based on local configuration. The codelet detects incompatibilities in standardized messages and changes relevant parameters (such as message format, field values, or protocol interpretations) to ensure compatibility with the local virtualized network function, enabling interoperability across different vendor implementations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If dedicated processing hardware is used for each base station, then reliability is improved, but cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidhardware deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses software-based network function virtualization where multiple virtualized network functions can be instantiated on generic computing hardware. Instead of requiring dedicated physical hardware for each base station, the system creates virtual copies of network functions that can be deployed, managed, and replicated across shared infrastructure, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining reliability through virtualization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical dedicated hardware system with a software-based virtualized system running on generic computing resources. By substituting physical dedicated processing hardware with virtualized software implementations, the system reduces hardware deployment complexity and cost while maintaining or improving reliability through the flexibility and fault tolerance provided by virtualization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If standardized messages are processed without modification, then processing speed is improved, but interoperability compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage processingVSAvoidmessage compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading message compatibility codelets into the virtualized network function before message processing occurs. The codelet is prepared in advance with knowledge of local configuration variations, enabling it to quickly detect and correct incompatibilities in incoming standardized messages without adding significant processing latency, thus maintaining processing speed while ensuring compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250219977A1Use of codelets to solve interoperability problems in network functions

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A communications network utilizes codelets within a network function for correcting interoperability issues within standardized messages. A processor configured to execute the instructions for operating the network function receives a codelet for execution at a hook point for processing a standardized message within the instructions. The processor executes the codelet to determine that a message is incompatible with a local configuration or interpretation of the standardized message and to modify the message to be compatible with the local configuration or interpretation of the standardized message. The processor executes the network function to process the modified message.