ORAN Gateway Reducing Central Unit Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Open Radio Access Networks (ORAN), the increasing number of distributed units (DUs), user equipment (UE), and network cells leads to a significant load on central units (CUs), resulting in inefficient resource utilization and management, with CUs often lacking sufficient resources to perform all operations optimally, and the deployment of additional CUs can lead to wasted resources and reduced flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a gateway hosted in an edge data center to manage connections and operations between DUs and CUs, allowing for efficient data packet transmission, handover operations, and restarts, thereby reducing the load on CUs and optimizing resource utilization by performing actions on behalf of the CUs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of CUs is increased to accommodate increasing DU, UE, and network cells, then the capacity to handle network elements is improved, but the resource consumption and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component between DUs and CUs. The gateway establishes connections with both DUs and CUs, and can perform actions on behalf of CUs, thereby reducing the direct management burden on CUs and optimizing resource utilization without requiring proportional increases in CU数量
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway is designed with multi-functional capabilities, able to perform multiple operations including establishing connections, transmitting data packets, performing handovers, and executing restart operations. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity
2Device complexity
If a single CU serves a significant number of DUs, UE, and network cells, then the device count is reduced, but the load on the CU increases and resources become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as a force multiplier for CUs by handling routine operations on their behalf. This allows a single CU to effectively serve more DUs and network cells without being overwhelmed, as the gateway absorbs much of the operational load through automated actions
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway enables CUs to perform self-service operations by automatically executing actions such as data packet transmission, handovers, and restarts without requiring direct CU intervention for each operation. This automation increases the effective productivity of each CU
3Productivity
If additional CUs are deployed to handle increasing load, then the processing capacity is improved, but resource wastage occurs due to reserved resources not being fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway consolidates multiple functions into a single component that can serve multiple CUs and DUs. This allows existing CU resources to be shared and utilized more efficiently across the network, reducing the need to provision additional CUs and thereby minimizing resource wastage from unused reserved capacities
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway optimizes resource allocation by acting as an intelligent intermediary that can dynamically manage connections and operations between DUs and CUs. This allows for more efficient utilization of existing CU resources, reducing the need for additional resource provisioning
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are system, method, and device for managing one or more network elements of open radio access network (ORAN). According to embodiments, the system may include: a plurality of distributed units (DUs); a plurality of central units (CUs); a server comprising: a gateway, a memory storing instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to configure the gateway to: establish a connection with one or more of: (a) at least one DU of the plurality of DUs, and (b) at least one CU of the plurality of CUs; and perform an action to the one or more of (a) the at least one DU, and (b) the at least one CU.