RAN Layer 1 Platform Disaggregation via CCL Code
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The telecommunications industry faces high infrastructure costs and power consumption for radio access networks (RANs) as it transitions to 5G wireless technology, with existing solutions like Cloud RAN, Virtualized RAN, and Open RAN struggling to meet real-time reliability and scalability requirements due to limitations in hardware and software disaggregation.
Innovation Solution
A domain-specific, programmable dataflow/database paradigm for deterministic, real-time processing of channels is introduced, enabling an open, high-reliability Radio Access Network (RAN) Layer 1 platform that disaggregates hardware and software across the Radio Unit, Distributed Unit, and Centralized Unit, using a configuration and control layer (CCL) code to optimize network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hardware and software are disaggregated in RAN to reduce costs and improve flexibility, then adaptability and ease of manufacture are improved, but reliability and real-time performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN is segmented into distinct functional units (Radio Unit, Distributed Unit, Centralized Unit) that can be independently deployed and managed. This segmentation allows hardware and software to be disaggregated while maintaining reliable real-time performance through dedicated processing functions in each unit, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A service abstraction boundary acts as an intermediary layer between the disaggregated hardware/software components and the network functions. This intermediary ensures reliable real-time performance by providing standardized interfaces and protocols that coordinate communication across distributed components, enabling both disaggregation flexibility and performance reliability
2Reliability
If traditional RAN infrastructure is used to ensure reliability, then reliability is maintained, but cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters by implementing intelligent power management that dynamically adjusts processing power allocation based on network demand. During low-traffic periods, power consumption is reduced by scaling back processing in non-critical functions while maintaining carrier-grade reliability for essential services, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and power consumption
3Reliability
If complex development and maintenance processes are used to ensure network functionality, then reliability is improved, but time-to-market and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A universal service abstraction boundary provides multi-functional support for various network functions and hardware configurations through standardized interfaces. This universality allows the same reliable framework to support multiple deployment scenarios and network functions simultaneously, reducing development time while maintaining reliability through proven standardized protocols
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for cross-platform programmable network communication. The method includes receiving, at a network toolchain, instructions for network hardware of a radio access network (RAN), the instructions comprising a domain specific language for the RAN. The method also includes determining through the network toolchain an architectural model for the network hardware, the architectural model comprising network patterns of the network hardware. The method also includes generating, by the network toolchain, translated instructions based on the instructions, the translated instructions comprising a configuration and control layer (CCL) code. The method also includes sending the CCL code to the network hardware. The method also includes executing the CCL code by the network hardware. The method also includes causing the network hardware to perform a network function based on execution of the CCL code.