Traffic Engineering in Software Defined Radio Access Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic engineering in software defined radio access networks (SD-RANs) faces challenges in balancing flow demand constraints, wired link capacity constraints, and wireless access resource constraints, which complicates the optimization of traffic allocations among users and paths, especially when multiple radio access technologies are present.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a radio resource manager (RRM) determining and computing data rates for user equipment (UE) paths, using an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to decompose the traffic engineering problem into centralized and scheduling subproblems, optimizing flow demand and wired link capacity constraints while addressing wireless access node constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traffic engineering optimizes flow demand and wired link capacity constraints, then network capacity is improved, but wireless access resource constraints become more difficult to satisfy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traffic engineering problem into two independent subproblems: a centralized subproblem that optimizes flow demand and wired link capacity constraints, and a scheduling subproblem that satisfies wireless access resource constraints. This segmentation allows each subproblem to be solved independently using appropriate methods (ADMM for centralized, iterative updates for scheduling), thereby resolving the contradiction between improving network capacity and satisfying wireless constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spectral efficiency metrics as an intermediary between the centralized traffic engineering module and the wireless scheduling module. The centralized module computes spectral efficiency values that serve as inputs to the scheduling module, enabling coordination between the two subproblems. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to optimize network capacity while maintaining wireless access resource constraints through iterative updates of spectral efficiency values.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio access technologies are supported, then network versatility is improved, but optimization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optimization process into a centralized subproblem that handles flow demand and wired link constraints independently of wireless technology details, and a scheduling subproblem that handles wireless access constraints. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple radio access technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular) without increasing overall optimization complexity, as each technology is handled by the scheduling module using standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal traffic engineering framework that can handle multiple radio access technologies through a common set of constraints and optimization methods. The centralized module uses universal flow demand and link capacity constraints that apply across different technologies, while the scheduling module provides technology-specific implementations. This universality reduces optimization complexity by avoiding separate optimization processes for each technology.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment method of traffic engineering (TE) in a software defined radio access network (SD-RAN) includes determining, by a radio resource manager (RRM) at a wireless radio node, respective data rates for paths of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) wirelessly coupled to the wireless radio node. The RRM computes respective supported wireless rates for the paths of the plurality of UEs according to the respective data rates. The TE module receives respective allocated data rates for the paths of the plurality of UEs. The method also includes repeating the determining and the computing using the respective allocated data rates.