Standardizing RAN Entity Management via NETCONF and YANG
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access networks (RAN) management lacks consistency and standardization, particularly in 4G and 5G networks, due to proprietary methods and varied protocols for Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) functions across different network entities, such as central units (CU), distributed units (DU), and remote radio units (RRU/RRH/TRP).
Innovation Solution
The use of Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) and YANG data modeling language provides a standardized approach for managing RAN network entities, enabling flexible configuration and management through remote procedure calls and XML-based data encoding, allowing for consistent definition and management of characteristics and attributes across CU, DU, and RRU/RRH/TRP entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary management methods and varied protocols are used for OAM functions across different network entities, then each vendor can optimize their specific implementation, but consistency and standardization of management across the network is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a standardized NETCONF protocol framework that can universally manage diverse RAN network entities (CU, DU, RRU/RRH/TRP) from different vendors. The YANG data modeling language provides a universal schema that defines consistent management interfaces while allowing vendor-specific extensions, thus achieving both standardization and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the management system into standardized protocol layers (NETCONF) and data modeling layers (YANG), separating the management framework from vendor-specific implementations. This segmentation allows the core management functions to be standardized while permitting vendor-specific optimizations at the implementation level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RRU/RRH/TRP are managed as separate network entities from DU, then flexibility in vendor selection and deployment is improved, but management complexity increases due to multiple sibling child nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the NETCONF protocol as an intermediary management layer that mediates between the network management system and diverse RAN entities. The standardized protocol acts as a mediator that simplifies management of multiple separate entities by providing unified access methods, thus reducing management complexity while maintaining entity independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses YANG data modeling to dynamically change management parameters and attributes of RAN entities through standardized interfaces. This allows flexible configuration of separate entities (CU, DU, RRU/RRH/TRP) with consistent parameter management, reducing the complexity of managing multiple independent nodes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If standardized NETCONF protocol and YANG data modeling are implemented for managing RAN entities, then management consistency and standardization are improved, but implementation complexity and initial setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining standardized YANG data models and NETCONF protocol schemas for RAN entity management. These preliminary standardized frameworks are established before deployment, providing ready-to-use templates that reduce implementation complexity during actual deployment while maintaining management standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system, method, and interfaces for Radio Access Networks and Cloud Radio Access Networks.