Radio Network Capacity Management via Cloud Virtualization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio-based network deployments, such as 4G and 5G networks, are time-consuming and expensive due to manual configuration and vendor-specific hardware, limiting flexibility and scalability.
Innovation Solution
Automated deployment and management of radio-based networks using cloud provider infrastructure, allowing for decoupling of hardware from software, enabling plug-and-play installation, dynamic scaling, and efficient resource allocation through APIs and microservices architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration and vendor-specific hardware are used for radio-based network deployment, then network functionality is achieved, but deployment time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual machine instances as software-based copies of network functions that can be deployed across different hardware platforms. Instead of relying on proprietary hardware implementations, the network functions are replicated as virtualized software entities that can run on standardized cloud infrastructure, dramatically accelerating deployment while reducing vendor lock-in
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated API-driven provisioning systems. The cloud provider's automation infrastructure programmatically provisions, configures, and manages radio-based network resources, eliminating time-consuming manual intervention and enabling rapid deployment through software-based control
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware is tightly coupled with vendor-specific software, then network stability is maintained, but flexibility and scalability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network function from the underlying hardware by introducing a virtualization layer. Network functions are separated into independent virtual machine instances that can be provisioned, managed, and scaled independently from the physical infrastructure, enabling flexible reconfiguration without hardware changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal virtual machine instances that can execute the same network functions across diverse hardware platforms and cloud environments. This hardware-agnostic approach allows a single software implementation to operate on multiple types of infrastructure, greatly enhancing adaptability and preventing vendor lock-in
3Productivity
If computing capacity is allocated statically for radio-based networks, then resource allocation is simple, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic computing capacity allocation where virtual machine instances can be automatically provisioned, scaled, and de-provisioned based on real-time network demands. The cloud provider's orchestration system continuously monitors resource usage and dynamically adjusts capacity allocation, transforming static resource management into an adaptive, demand-responsive system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors network performance metrics and resource utilization levels, then uses this information to automatically adjust computing capacity allocation. The cloud provider's management system receives feedback on actual usage patterns and dynamically provisions or releases resources to optimize both efficiency and performance
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for managing computing capacity in radio-based networks and associated core networks. In one embodiment, it is determined that a set of computing hardware implementing a radio-based network for a customer has an excess capacity. At least one action is implemented to reallocate the excess capacity of the computing hardware.