Open RAN Domain Control for Service-Aware Network Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile network architectures face vendor lock-in due to proprietary technologies, limiting network operators' flexibility and interoperability, and there is a need for improved network management and automation, especially in the context of evolving software-defined networks and metaverse services.
Innovation Solution
An extended open RAN architecture with distributed domain controllers and a service manager that facilitates time-sensitive and time-insensitive network function management, allowing for service-based optimization of network infrastructure, including metaverse and non-metaverse services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary technologies are used in mobile networks, then network equipment interoperability is ensured, but network operators face vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network architecture into multiple independent domains (access domain, transport domain, core domain, service domain) each managed by separate domain controllers. This segmentation allows different vendors to provide equipment for different domains using proprietary technologies while maintaining overall system interoperability through standardized domain interfaces, thereby resolving the vendor lock-in problem while preserving interoperability within each domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces domain controllers as intermediary components that manage specific network domains and facilitate communication between different vendor equipment. These domain controllers act as mediators that enable interoperability between proprietary technologies from different vendors through standardized domain management interfaces, allowing network operators to flexibly select vendors for different domains without facing complete vendor lock-in.
2Productivity
If specialized hardware is used in mobile networks, then network performance is optimized, but network management complexity increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into specialized domains (access, transport, core, service) each with dedicated domain controllers that manage specific hardware resources. This segmentation allows specialized hardware to be optimized for specific functions while the domain controllers provide standardized management interfaces, reducing overall management complexity despite the use of specialized hardware throughout the network.
Solution Approach 2:
Domain controllers serve as intermediary management layers between specialized hardware components and network operators. They abstract the complexity of managing specialized hardware by providing unified, domain-specific management interfaces, thereby maintaining network performance optimization through specialized hardware while reducing management complexity for operators.
3Adaptability or versatility
If distributed domain controllers are deployed across multiple network domains, then service delivery flexibility is improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function into multiple distributed domain controllers, each responsible for a specific network domain. This segmentation enables service delivery flexibility by allowing independent optimization of each domain while the standardized domain controller interfaces reduce coordination complexity through clear boundary definitions between domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The domain controllers are designed with universal interfaces and standardized protocols that enable them to perform multiple functions across different domains. This multi-functionality reduces system coordination complexity by providing a unified control paradigm that can be applied consistently across access, transport, core, and service domains, despite the distributed architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a requirement of a network-accessible service requested by a user, and determining a network policy according to the service. An infrastructure of a network domain is organized according to the requirement and the policy to provide the service. A distributed controller operating within the network domain configures time-insensitive and time sensitive network domain functions according to the network policy. The time-insensitive functions are obtained from the distributed controller and applied in a manner that selects an access domain type of a number of different types. The selection is made according to an application of the time-insensitive and time sensitive network domain functions. Network performance data is monitored, and the infrastructure is reconfigured responsive to the application the functions, to obtain a reconfigured network infrastructure based on the network performance data, to ensure compliance with the network policy. Other embodiments are disclosed.