RAN Cell Configuration Tracking for Micro gNB Resource Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face inefficiencies in distributing cell configurations among radio access network nodes, leading to excessive signaling, CPU, and memory resource utilization, particularly affecting micro gNBs, due to unnecessary updates and limited resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a centralized or decentralized cell configuration tracking architecture where gNBs register their served cells with a tracking node or peer gNBs, allowing efficient distribution and retrieval of cell configurations as needed, reducing unnecessary signaling and memory storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If gNBs distribute complete cell configuration lists to all peer gNBs, then all nodes have access to cell configuration information, but signaling overhead and resource utilization increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary cell configuration information that is relevant to each peer gNB's coverage area, rather than distributing complete configuration lists. This selective extraction reduces signaling overhead while ensuring that each gNB receives only the configuration data it needs for handover operations, thereby reducing network energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by tailoring the configuration information distribution to each specific peer gNB's needs. Each gNB receives configuration data localized to its coverage area and relevant neighbor cells, rather than a uniform complete set. This localized approach minimizes unnecessary data transmission and optimizes resource utilization.
2Reliability
If gNBs send configuration updates to all peer gNBs, then all nodes receive updates, but micro gNBs with limited resources experience excessive CPU and memory utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and distributes only the specific configuration update elements that are relevant to each peer gNB, rather than sending complete configuration sets. This selective extraction ensures that micro gNBs receive only the necessary update information, reducing their CPU and memory processing requirements while maintaining reliable update delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by sending only the necessary portion of configuration updates to each peer gNB based on its specific needs and coverage area. This partial update approach avoids the excessive resource utilization that would result from processing complete configuration sets, while still ensuring reliable delivery of relevant updates.
3Loss of information
If micro gNBs store complete cell configuration lists, then all cell configurations are available locally, but memory resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the cell configuration information that is relevant to each micro gNB's coverage area and neighbor relationships. This selective extraction allows micro gNBs to store minimal configuration data locally while maintaining access to necessary information through on-demand retrieval from the tracking node or other gNBs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the tracking node maintain the master cell configuration database and pre-process configuration data. When a gNB needs configuration information, it is already prepared and can be retrieved efficiently without requiring the micro gNB to store complete configuration sets, thus reducing memory requirements while ensuring information accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods for a first network node configured to serve one or more cells in a radio access network (RAN). Such methods include detecting a neighbor cell for which the first network node does not store a configuration and obtaining, from a tracking node, an indication of one or more second network nodes that store the configuration for the neighbor cell. Such methods also include obtaining the configuration for the neighbor cell from one of the indicated second network nodes. Other embodiments include complementary methods for the tracking node, as well as network nodes configured to perform such methods.