Per-Operator Resource Reporting in Shared Radio Access Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network architectures do not allow for reporting of cell resource utilization at the per-operator level, preventing effective load distribution and balancing in scenarios where multiple operators share resources, as they only report on a per-cell basis, which is insufficient for managing resources among sharing operators.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that associate each operator with a public land mobile network (PLMN), monitor resource utilization, and transmit reports over the 3GPP X2 interface, enabling per-operator reporting of control and data plane resources, with mechanisms for handover and resource reallocation when thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If per-cell resource utilization reporting is used, then network architecture complexity is reduced and existing protocols are maintained, but resource management precision deteriorates because per-operator granularity cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resource utilization reporting by introducing PLMN-specific identifiers to divide the aggregated cell-level reporting into separate per-operator reports. Each operator's resource utilization is reported independently through the existing X2 interface, achieving per-operator granularity without creating a new reporting architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses PLMN identifiers as an intermediary element in the existing resource status messages. By adding PLMN ID fields to the resource status report messages, the system can distinguish between different operators sharing the same cell while utilizing the existing reporting infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If per-operator resource utilization reporting is implemented, then resource management precision improves by enabling per-operator load balancing, but network architecture complexity increases requiring new signaling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the resource status reporting PLMN-specific rather than uniform for all operators. The system selectively reports resource status for each PLMN independently, allowing operators to receive only the relevant resource utilization data for their specific network while using the same underlying infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic PLMN-specific reporting where the resource status messages include PLMN identifiers that dynamically identify which operator's resources are being reported. This allows the system to adapt the reporting content based on which operators are sharing the cell, without requiring static dedicated reporting paths for each operator.
3Ease of operation
If existing 3GPP signaling protocols are used, then ease of operation is maintained with standard interfaces, but adaptability deteriorates because per-operator load balancing cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing resource status reporting mechanism universal by enabling it to serve both aggregate cell-level reporting and per-operator reporting functions. The same X2 interface and message formats are used, but with the addition of PLMN identifier fields, allowing a single protocol to handle multiple reporting granularities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the existing resource status messages by adding PLMN ID fields and making resource utilization metrics PLMN-specific. This parameter modification allows the existing protocol to convey per-operator information without requiring a completely new signaling mechanism, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for reporting cell resource utilization associated with a plurality of operators sharing resources of a cell are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes associating each of a plurality of operators with a different one of a plurality of public land mobile networks, PLMNs. The method includes monitoring cell resource utilization for each PLMN. The method also includes transmitting cell resource utilization for each one of at least one of the plurality of PLMNs.