5G Radio Unit Slicing for Subscriber-to-Operator Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio access network (RAN) slicing technologies in 5G NR networks struggle with inefficient mapping of subscribers to their respective network operators in shared radio unit architectures, leading to delays in information delivery to the appropriate network operator.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that utilizes Radio Unit (RU) devices to transmit system information including network slices and PRACH occasions, allowing UE devices to transmit preambles on specific PRACH occasions mapped to these slices, enabling the RU to determine and route data to the correct network operator's Distributed Unit (DU) device based on Slice Differentiator (SD) values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods without RU sharing are used, then network operator information delivery is straightforward, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network architecture is segmented into three independent functional units: Radio Unit (RU), Distributed Unit (DU), and Centralized Unit (CU). This segmentation allows different operators to share the RU while maintaining separate DU and CU instances, thereby improving resource utilization without compromising network independence or increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The Radio Unit (RU) is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple network operators simultaneously. The RU can handle radio communications for different operators by receiving identification information from UEs and routing data to the appropriate operator's DU, thus improving resource utilization efficiency without requiring dedicated RUs for each operator
2Productivity
If RU sharing among multiple operators is implemented, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but subscriber mapping efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the RU with multiple operator identities and establishing mapping relationships between UEs and operators before actual communication occurs. The RU stores identification information of multiple operators and maintains a mapping table that associates UEs with their respective operators, enabling immediate and efficient routing without time-consuming determination during data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The Radio Unit (RU) acts as an intermediary between UEs and multiple network operators. It receives identification information from UEs, determines the corresponding operator based on pre-established mappings, and routes data to the appropriate operator's DU. This intermediary function streamlines the subscriber-to-operator mapping process, reducing time loss while enabling RU sharing among multiple operators
3Ease of operation
If dedicated RUs for each operator are used, then subscriber mapping is simple, but network resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple network operators merge their radio access resources by sharing a common Radio Unit (RU) infrastructure. The RU is configured to handle communications for all participating operators simultaneously, consolidating previously separate RU resources. This merging improves network resource efficiency while the RU's ability to identify and route to different operators' DUs maintains operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for mapping a subscriber to a mobile network operator in a fifth-generation New Radio (5G NR) cellular telecommunication radio access network (RAN). The method is performed by a Radio Unit (RU) device operated by a first network operator and includes: transmitting system information including first information indicating network slices and second information indicating Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) occasions mapped to the network slices, receiving a preamble of a Random Access Channel (RACH) during one of the PRACH occasions indicated by the second information, determining a second network operator based on the one of the PRACH occasions during which the preamble of the RACH is received, and transmitting the preamble of the RACH to a Distributed Unit (DU) device that is operated by the second network operator determined based on the one of the PRACH occasions during which the preamble of the RACH is received.