Central QoS Manager for 5G Radio Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication networks, managing Quality of Service (QoS) across heterogeneous subnetworks, such as slices, is challenging due to the need for efficient allocation of radio access resources to ensure compliance with varying QoS classes defined by Service Level Agreements, while existing technologies struggle to adapt to different radio access technologies and optimize resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling radio access resources in a communication network with a central Quality of Service manager that assigns and manages QoS classes across subnetworks, allowing for autonomous allocation of radio access resources by radio access entities based on received QoS information, and enables handovers between entities to optimize resource usage and meet QoS requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central Quality of Service manager is introduced to manage QoS classes across heterogeneous subnetworks, then QoS compliance and resource allocation efficiency are improved, but system complexity and control overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
A central Quality of Service manager is introduced as an intermediary entity that coordinates QoS management across heterogeneous subnetworks. The manager receives QoS requirements from network slices, determines appropriate QoS classes, and communicates these to radio access entities, thereby centralizing control logic and reducing distributed system complexity while ensuring QoS compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments QoS management into distinct functional components: the central Quality of Service manager handles high-level QoS policy and class assignment, while radio access entities handle local resource allocation. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, improving manageability and reducing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If radio access resources are autonomously allocated by radio access entities based on QoS information, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but coordination overhead and signaling between entities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The central Quality of Service manager performs preliminary action by pre-determining QoS classes and allocating radio access resources before actual data transmission. This advance planning allows radio access entities to autonomously execute resource allocation without real-time coordination, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining allocation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where radio access entities report resource status and QoS compliance to the central manager, which then adjusts QoS class assignments accordingly. This feedback loop enables efficient autonomous operation while maintaining coordination through targeted signaling only when adjustments are needed.
3Productivity
If handovers between radio access entities are enabled to optimize resource usage, then resource utilization is improved, but handover complexity and service interruption risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The central Quality of Service manager acts as an intermediary that coordinates handovers between radio access entities. When resource optimization requires handover, the manager manages the transition process, ensuring QoS requirements are maintained throughout the handover sequence, thereby reducing service interruption risk while enabling resource optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential handovers in advance by pre-establishing QoS class assignments and resource allocations for target entities. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when handovers occur, the receiving entity is already prepared to maintain QoS requirements, reducing service interruption and handover complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication network comprises a plurality of subnetworks including a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork. Each subnetwork is assigned at least one predefined Quality of Service class according to at least one Service Level Agreement. The Quality of Service classes of the subnetworks are managed by a central Quality of Service manager. The communication network further comprises a radio access network with a plurality of radio access entities. A method for controlling radio access resources in the communication network includes: transmitting, by the central Quality of Service manager, information relating to a Quality of Service class of the first subnetwork to a first radio access entity for radio access to the first subnetwork.