Disaggregated RAN Function Placement for Inter-Cell Delay Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in 5G cellular networks is to determine optimal locations for central units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs) in radio access networks (RANs) that balance performance and cost, while ensuring inter-cell delay requirements are met.
Innovation Solution
A controller is used to collect delay measurements and thresholds, and based on this data, it determines the optimal placement of CUs and DUs across different locations, such as data centers or cloud resources, to minimize inter-cell delays and maximize resource pooling gains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If CUs and DUs are located at the cheapest location (e.g., remote data center), then operating cost is reduced, but inter-cell delay increases and may violate delay thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the location parameter of CUs and DUs based on measured inter-cell delays. When delays exceed thresholds, the controller relocates network functions to different geographic locations, transforming the static deployment into a dynamic optimization problem that balances cost and performance
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors inter-cell delay measurements and uses this feedback to determine whether relocation is needed. The system compares measured delays against thresholds and automatically triggers relocation decisions, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing network conditions
2Reliability
If CUs and DUs are located closer to antenna sites to reduce inter-cell delay, then delay threshold compliance is improved, but operating cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static network function deployment into a dynamic system where CUs and DUs can be relocated based on real-time delay measurements. The controller continuously evaluates whether current locations satisfy delay thresholds and adjusts placements dynamically, allowing the system to adapt between cost-optimized and performance-optimized configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary relocation actions before delay violations become critical. By monitoring delays continuously and comparing against thresholds, the controller can proactively relocate network functions to prevent threshold violations, rather than reacting after performance degradation occurs
3Productivity
If network functions are consolidated at fewer locations to maximize resource pooling gains, then resource efficiency is improved, but inter-cell delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network function deployment across multiple geographic locations rather than consolidating at a single site. By distributing CUs and DUs across different locations based on delay requirements, the system maintains resource pooling benefits while preventing excessive inter-cell delays that would result from over-consolidation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different deployment strategies to different network functions based on their specific requirements. Some CUs and DUs are located at cost-optimized sites while others are placed closer to antenna sites, creating locally optimized configurations that balance resource pooling with delay constraints
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology is generally directed towards location selection for disaggregated radio access network (RAN) network functions. Disaggregated RAN network functions include, for example, RAN distributed units (DUs) and RAN central units (CUs) that are associated with RAN cells and RAN radio units (RUs). When multiple viable equipment locations are available, of equipment that can host DUs and/or CUs, the disclosed techniques can be used to select preferred location(s). The DU(s) and/or the CU(s) can be moved to equipment at the selected location(s) to improve network performance. Disclosed techniques can account for inter-cell delay requirements of different RAN cells, to place network functions in a manner that supports effective coordination between multiple cells.