RAN Controller Communication Agents for Slice Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication methods between radio access network controllers and base stations in software-defined wireless broadband systems lack programmability for virtualization, limiting the dynamic creation, modification, and management of virtual radio access networks, which is essential for efficient resource sharing and service differentiation in fourth-generation and beyond cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables communication between a RAN controller and base stations for programmatically establishing, modifying, and terminating RAN slices through profile definitions that specify wireless network-layer, flow-level, protocol-level, and wireless resources-level virtualization, using embedded Communication Agents for control messaging and configuration updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional communication methods between RAN controllers and base stations are used, then system stability is maintained, but programmability for virtualization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional layers: a control plane for management messaging (ConfigurationUpdate, ConfigurationConfirmed, slice information) and a user plane for data traffic. This segmentation allows programmability to be introduced in the control plane without disrupting the stability of the user plane, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Communication Agents as intermediary components that reside in both the RAN controller and base stations. These agents handle the complex programmability functions (slice management, configuration updates) while presenting a simplified interface to the rest of the system. The Communication Agents act as mediators that absorb the complexity of virtualization management, allowing the core communication functionality to remain stable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic RAN slice management is implemented, then network flexibility is improved, but control messaging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal ConfigurationUpdate message structure that can handle multiple types of RAN slice operations (creation, modification, deletion, activation, deactivation) through a single standardized interface. This multi-functional message design allows the system to achieve high network flexibility while keeping the control messaging structure relatively simple and consistent across different operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages RAN slice dynamics by changing parameters within standardized message structures rather than creating new message types for each operation. The ConfigurationUpdate message contains flexible parameters that can be adjusted to represent different slice management operations, allowing network flexibility to be achieved through parameter manipulation rather than structural complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple active RAN slices are allowed on the same base station, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but scheduler complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scheduling function into slice-specific schedulers, where each RAN slice has its own dedicated scheduler instance. This segmentation allows multiple slices to operate independently with their own scheduling policies and resource allocation strategies, providing high resource allocation flexibility while isolating the complexity of multi-slice management into separate, manageable scheduler components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each RAN slice to have its own customized scheduler with specific scheduling algorithms, priorities, and resource allocation policies tailored to the particular requirements of that slice. This enables different parts of the system (different slices) to have different scheduling characteristics, achieving high resource allocation flexibility while keeping each individual scheduler relatively simple and focused.
Data Source
AI summary
Base stations as well as Radio Access Network (RAN) controllers have embedded communication agents that are responsible from control messaging between these entities that enable creation and management of RAN Slices. At a given time, it is possible that multiple active RAN slices co-exist on the same base station, where each RAN slice may run its own scheduler, its own admission control and have its own handoff management parameter values.