O-RU Energy Saving Mode Switching for O-RAN Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional O-RAN lacks a well-defined mechanism for managing energy consumption in O-RUs, leading to inefficiencies in power management.
Innovation Solution
A radio access network control apparatus and method that includes an energy saving information notification unit to notify O-RUs of their supported energy saving modes, allowing for effective management of energy consumption by switching to optimal energy saving modes based on the notified information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional O-RAN systems are used without defined energy management mechanisms, then the system maintains simple operation and structure, but energy consumption in O-RUs becomes inefficient and unmanaged
Solution Approach 1:
The O-RU autonomously determines and notifies its own supported energy saving modes to the control apparatus, eliminating the need for complex centralized energy management configuration. The O-RU self-manages its energy saving capabilities by independently identifying supported modes and communicating them, reducing overall system complexity while improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The O-RU provides feedback information about its supported energy saving modes to the control apparatus. This feedback mechanism enables the control apparatus to make informed decisions about energy saving operations without requiring complex predefined management mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency improvement and system complexity
2Loss of energy
If energy saving modes are implemented in O-RU, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system requires more complex control mechanisms to manage mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The O-RU autonomously identifies and notifies its supported energy saving modes without requiring complex external configuration or management. This self-service approach allows energy saving functionality to be implemented while keeping the control mechanism simple, as the O-RU itself manages the information about its capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic switching between different energy saving modes based on actual operating conditions and O-RU capabilities. The control apparatus can flexibly select from multiple notified energy saving modes, enabling adaptive energy management without requiring complex predefined management structures
Data Source
AI summary
A radio access network control apparatus that controls O-RAN including O-RU as radio unit, has at least one processor that performs: by an energy saving information notification unit, causing the O-RU to notify energy saving information concerning energy saving mode that the O-RU can support. The at least one processor that performs: by an energy saving mode switching unit, switching the O-RU to an energy saving mode that the O-RU can support; and by a communication function reconfiguration unit, reconfiguring the communication function of the O-RU in accordance with the switched energy saving mode. The radio access network control apparatus is provided in at least one of the SMO (Service Management and Orchestration), the Non-RT RIC (Non-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller), the Near-RT RIC (Near-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller), the O-CU, and the O-DU.