Pass-Through Edge Data Center for 5G Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G wireless networks face challenges in minimizing latency and service interruptions while providing efficient services in a disaggregated architecture, particularly in delivering high-bandwidth and low-latency services across multiple access platforms and edge computing environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pass-through edge data center (P-EDC) system that aggregates telecommunication data from 5G NR radio base stations and distributed units, transmitting it via fiber optic cables to a breakout edge data center hosted by a cloud computing service provider, enabling efficient data routing and reducing latency through a cloud-native, service-based architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transmitted through centralized data centers, then network coverage and service availability are improved, but latency increases and bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized data center into multiple edge data centers distributed geographically closer to end users. Each edge data center handles local traffic independently, reducing the distance data must travel and thereby lowering latency while maintaining service availability through distributed redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to data center deployment by transitioning from a single centralized location to multiple distributed edge locations. This dimensional change allows data to be processed closer to its source and destination, reducing transmission latency while maintaining the reliability of centralized architecture through coordinated operation
2Speed
If more hardware infrastructure is deployed to increase bandwidth and reduce latency, then service quality improves, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs edge data centers with universal, multi-functional hardware platforms that can handle multiple network functions (routing, switching, content delivery, computing) on the same infrastructure. This eliminates the need for separate specialized hardware for each function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high transmission speeds through optimized resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of core data center functionality at edge locations rather than deploying full-scale replicas. Each edge data center contains essential routing and processing capabilities needed to reduce latency, while more complex functions remain centralized, balancing performance improvement with hardware complexity management
3Ease of operation
If traditional centralized data center architecture is used, then infrastructure management is simplified, but deployment flexibility and scalability to edge locations are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic architecture where edge data centers can be rapidly deployed, activated, or deactivated based on demand. The system dynamically routes traffic between centralized and distributed edge locations, allowing flexible adaptation to changing service requirements while maintaining simplified management through centralized control planes that orchestrate the distributed infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments are directed towards systems and for a pass-through edge data center (P-EDC) in a 5G wireless telecommunication network having a disaggregated, flexible and virtualized radio access network (RAN) implemented on a cloud computing service provider cloud. The P-EDC may provide a direct circuit fiber connection from the distributed unit (DU) directly to the primary physical data center (e.g., a breakout edge data center (B-EDC)) hosting the centralized unit (CU). In some embodiments, the local data center (LDC), P-EDC, and/or the B-EDC may be co-located or in a single location. The CU 102 may be connected to a regional cloud data center (RDC), which in turn may be connected to a national cloud data center (NDC). The hardware of the P-EDC, the LDC, the cell site 116 and the RU 106 may all be managed, owned and/or controlled by one or more mobile network operators, whereas the hardware of the B-EDC, the RDC and the NDC may all be managed, hosted and/or owned by a cloud computing service provider.