Radio Node Clustering for Coverage Continuity During Firmware Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk firmware updates in radio access networks often result in catastrophic scenarios such as coverage blackouts and steep drops in hand-over success due to random node selection, with no existing automatic system to manage the impact on network coverage and user connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A smart scheduler uses artificial intelligence and unsupervised machine learning to perform node clustering and scheduling, ensuring minimal disruption by assigning non-overlapping coverage areas and prioritizing high-priority nodes, while utilizing neighboring nodes for compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bulk firmware updates are performed by randomly selecting radio nodes, then firmware updates can be applied to multiple nodes, but coverage blackout and steep drop in hand-over success occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the list of radio nodes into multiple batches based on coverage area overlap analysis. Nodes are divided into batches such that nodes within the same batch have non-overlapping coverage areas, allowing sequential updates without causing coverage blackout. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling bulk updates (improving productivity) while maintaining network coverage continuity (improving reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of coverage area overlaps between nodes before executing firmware updates. By pre-calculating which nodes can be updated simultaneously without causing coverage issues, the system prepares a safe update sequence in advance. This preliminary action prevents coverage blackout and hand-over failures while still enabling efficient bulk updates.
2Productivity
If bulk firmware updates are performed by randomly selecting radio nodes, then firmware updates can be applied to multiple nodes, but steep drop in hand-over success occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments nodes into batches based on spatial coverage relationships. By ensuring that nodes within the same batch have non-overlapping coverage areas, the system prevents hand-over failures that would occur if overlapping nodes were updated simultaneously. This segmentation enables bulk updates while maintaining high hand-over success rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor network conditions during firmware updates. By observing hand-over behavior and coverage status in real-time, the system can adjust the update sequence and batch composition to maintain optimal hand-over success rates while continuing with bulk updates.
3Reliability
If a systematic approach is used to select radio nodes for firmware updates, then network coverage continuity is maintained, but update efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary coverage area analysis and batch formation before executing firmware updates. By pre-calculating the optimal batch composition based on coverage overlap, the system establishes an efficient update sequence in advance. This preliminary action ensures network coverage continuity while maximizing update efficiency through parallel processing of independent batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the node list into multiple independent batches where nodes within each batch have non-overlapping coverage areas. This segmentation allows parallel execution of firmware updates across multiple batches, maintaining network coverage continuity while significantly improving overall update efficiency compared to sequential updates.
4Manufacturing precision
If coverage area overlap is checked for each node pair, then batch assignment accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs coverage area overlap analysis and batch assignment in a preliminary phase before executing firmware updates. By pre-calculating the optimal batch composition based on coverage relationships, the system establishes accurate batch assignments in advance. This preliminary action ensures high batch assignment accuracy while minimizing processing time during the actual update execution phase.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of this description relates to a method including receiving a list of radio nodes usable in a wireless network. Each of the radio nodes has a corresponding coverage area. The method includes selecting a first radio node from the list of radio nodes. The method includes creating a first batch in which one or more radio nodes are to be assigned. The method includes assigning the first radio node to the first batch. The method includes selecting a second radio node. The method includes determining whether the corresponding coverage area of the second radio node overlaps with the corresponding coverage area of the first radio node. The method includes assigning the second radio node to the first batch in response to a determination that the corresponding coverage area of the second radio node does not overlap with the corresponding coverage area of the first radio node.