Radio Access Point Antenna Segmentation for Network Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing network slicing in the Radio Access Network (RAN) requires dedicated radio spectrum, base stations, and specialized schedulers, leading to significant financial costs and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method of operating a radio access point that reserves a portion of its antenna elements for exclusive use by a specific network slice, processing only signals from User Equipment allocated to that slice, thereby segregating traffic and optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated radio spectrum, base stations, and specialized schedulers are used to implement network slicing, then network slicing functionality is achieved, but financial cost and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna elements into distinct sets, where each set is dedicated to a specific network slice. This segmentation allows the radio access point to provide multiple network slices using the same physical hardware, eliminating the need for separate dedicated base stations for each slice and thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining slicing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling a single radio access point with multiple antenna elements to serve multiple network slices simultaneously. The base station processes signals from different antenna element sets for different slices using unified scheduling and resource management, reducing the need for specialized dedicated infrastructure and lowering overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated radio spectrum, base stations, and specialized schedulers are used to implement network slicing, then network slicing functionality is achieved, but financial cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple network slices into a single radio access point by sharing common infrastructure resources. Multiple antenna element sets are combined under one base station, allowing different network slices to coexist and be managed by the same hardware platform, thereby eliminating redundant infrastructure and reducing financial costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station is designed to universally handle multiple network slices through a single multi-functional platform. By implementing unified scheduling and resource allocation across different antenna element sets, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated base stations for each slice, significantly reducing the financial investment required while maintaining full network slicing capability.
3Reliability
If antenna elements are reserved for exclusive use by a given network slice, then traffic isolation between slices is achieved, but resource utilization efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station can flexibly assign different antenna element sets to different network slices based on real-time traffic conditions and slice requirements. This dynamic scheduling allows the system to maintain traffic isolation when needed while optimizing resource utilization by reallocating antenna elements to slices with higher demand, thereby balancing isolation and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as the number of active antenna elements, scheduling priorities, and resource allocation ratios based on the current state of each network slice. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can ensure adequate isolation for reliability-critical slices while maximizing overall resource utilization efficiency through adaptive parameter modification.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a radio access point so as to provide network slicing functionality, the radio access point providing a radio access network for a telecommunications network and the radio access point comprising a plurality of antenna elements, the method comprising the steps of: reserving a portion of the plurality of antenna elements for use only by a given network slice, the reserved portion of the plurality of antenna elements forming a set of antenna elements; receiving, at each of the plurality of antenna elements, a wireless signal from a User Equipment of the telecommunications network identifying the UE from the received wireless signal; determining that the identified UE is allocated to the given network slice; in response to the determining, the radio access point processing only the wireless signal as received by the set of antenna elements.