RAN Status Reporting for Scalable Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional W-CDMA radio access networks with physically separated C-plane and U-plane controllers, managing the status of U-plane controllers, especially during varying traffic and handover operations, is challenging due to lack of efficient resource allocation and awareness of subordinate U-plane controllers among C-plane controllers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves U-plane controllers reporting status information to C-plane controllers, which collectively manage this information for each subordinate U-plane controller, enabling effective resource allocation and route control during handovers by determining the appropriate U-plane controller for adding a radio link based on status information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If C-plane controller and U-plane controller are physically separated to improve scalability, then system scalability is improved, but status information management of U-plane controllers becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where U-plane controllers periodically report their status information (traffic load, resource usage, alarm states) to the C-plane controller. The C-plane controller collects and manages this status information from multiple subordinate U-plane controllers, enabling it to make informed decisions about resource allocation and handover operations while maintaining physical separation for scalability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If U-plane controllers are distributed under multiple C-plane controllers to improve resource utilization, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but awareness of subordinate U-plane controllers among C-plane controllers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal status information management mechanism where the C-plane controller serves multiple functions: it acts as a central management point for collecting status information from all subordinate U-plane controllers regardless of which C-plane controller they are logically assigned to, and uses this consolidated information for system-wide resource allocation decisions, handover control, and load balancing across the entire network.
3Reliability
If status information is not efficiently managed during handover operations, then handover performance deteriorates, but implementing comprehensive status monitoring increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having U-plane controllers continuously report their status information (including available resources, current load, and capacity) to the C-plane controller before handover operations are needed. This pre-collected status information enables the C-plane controller to quickly and accurately determine the most suitable target U-plane controller for handover, improving handover performance without requiring complex real-time analysis during the actual handover event.
Data Source
AI summary
In radio access network (RAN) 1 of the present invention, the configuration of radio network controller (RNC) 4 is physically separated into control plane controllers (CPE) 41a-41b for controlling signalling and user plane controllers (UPE) 42a-42c for controlling user data. User plane controllers 42a-42c report their own status information (traffic information/used channel bandwidth information/alarm information) to control plane controllers to which they belong, and control plane controllers 41a-41b manage the status information of the user plane controllers for each of user plane controllers subordinate thereto.