RAN Edge Servers Sharing Excess Capacity Through Dynamic Availability Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radio access network (RAN) edge systems face challenges in managing excess capacity efficiently, leading to underutilization of resources and high operational costs, while previous deployments relied on manual configuration and vendor-specific hardware, limiting flexibility and scalability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing RAN-enabled edge servers with specialized hardware and predictive analytics to create dynamic availability zones, offering excess capacity to third-party customers and enabling cloud-native radio access networks, allowing for flexible deployment and management of network functions using microservices architecture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration and vendor-specific hardware are used in RAN edge systems, then deployment is straightforward initially, but flexibility and scalability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and scalabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments RAN functions into distributed units (DUs) that can be independently deployed and managed at edge locations. This segmentation enables flexible combination of vendor-specific and cloud-native components while maintaining scalability through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal management platform that can handle multiple hardware vendors and system types through standardized interfaces. This multi-functional approach allows the system to accommodate both traditional vendor-specific equipment and cloud-native virtualized functions within a unified management framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If RAN edge resources are dedicated solely to network functions, then network performance is optimized, but resource utilization and cost efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Edge servers are designed to perform multiple functions: hosting RAN network functions, running cloud-native applications, and providing general computing services. This multi-functionality increases resource utilization while maintaining network performance through dedicated network function instances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically allocates edge resources based on real-time demand patterns. Network functions can be scaled independently from general computing workloads, allowing the system to optimize resource utilization without compromising network reliability through flexible, demand-driven resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If cloud-native architecture with microservices is implemented, then scalability and flexibility improve, but deployment and management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoiddeployment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a management platform as an intermediary layer between cloud-native microservices and the physical infrastructure. This platform abstracts the complexity of deploying and managing microservices, providing simplified interfaces for provisioning, monitoring, and scaling while enabling high scalability through the microservices architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If excess capacity is created in RAN edge systems, then future growth and demand flexibility are enabled, but operational costs and resource waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedemand flexibilityVSAvoidoperational costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic resource allocation that adjusts capacity based on real-time demand patterns. Instead of provisioning static excess capacity, the system can dynamically scale resources up or down, reducing operational costs while maintaining the ability to meet future demand when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes predictive analytics to analyze demand patterns and proactively adjust resource allocation parameters. By changing operational parameters based on predicted demand, the system can optimize the balance between having sufficient capacity for future growth and avoiding waste from excessive provisioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250254131A1Managing excess capacity in radio access network edge systems

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

Disclosed are various embodiments for managing excess capacity in radio access network (RAN) edge systems. In one embodiment, a RAN-enabled edge server is located at a cell site, is configured to execute distributed unit (DU) and/or centralized unit (CU) functions for a RAN, and includes a physical layer accelerator specialized for DU physical layer communication. A computing device is configured to determine that the RAN-enabled edge server has excess resource capacity beyond a quantity necessary to execute the DU/CU functions for the RAN, determine a demand for the excess resource capacity from a cloud provider network, and determine whether to offer the excess resource capacity to third-party customers of the cloud provider network based at least in part on the demand.