Self-Organizing Network API for Reducing Tool Redundancy

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Self-Organizing Networks (SON) tools for radio access networks are redundant and burdensome for developers due to their self-contained nature, hindering the adoption and efficiency of SON technologies.

Innovation Solution

A common application programming interface (API) is introduced that allows multiple SON components to communicate and focus on specific tasks, enabling data consolidation, visualization, and configuration, while a SON automation engine integrates and executes new tools, reducing development burden and enhancing redundancy reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each SON tool is entirely self-contained and handles all tasks independently, then each tool can operate autonomously, but there is great redundancy across tools and heightened development burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool autonomyVSAvoidsystem redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SON tool functionality into separate modular components: a common API layer that provides shared functionality (interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, configuring parameters) and individual SON tool components that focus on specific tasks (performance management, RF planning, frequency planning, rehoming, cell planning). This segmentation eliminates redundancy while maintaining autonomy through the standardized API interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The common API is designed as a universal interface that can be used by multiple different SON tools for common operations such as interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, and configuring parameters. This multi-functional API reduces development burden by providing shared capabilities that multiple tools can utilize, eliminating the need for each tool to implement the same functionality independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If each SON tool is self-contained and handles all tasks independently, then each tool can operate autonomously, but there is heightened burden on tool developers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool autonomyVSAvoiddevelopment burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SON tool functionality into separate modular components: a common API layer that provides shared functionality (interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, configuring parameters) and individual SON tool components that focus on specific tasks (performance management, RF planning, frequency planning, rehoming, cell planning). This segmentation eliminates redundancy while maintaining autonomy through the standardized API interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The common API acts as an intermediary layer between the individual SON tools and the network components. It provides standardized interfaces for common operations (interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, configuring parameters), allowing individual tools to focus on their specific functions without directly implementing all infrastructure code. This mediator reduces development burden by handling common tasks centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple SON tools perform the same tasks independently, then each tool has full functionality, but there is great amount of redundancy across the tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool functionalityVSAvoidredundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the common functionality of multiple SON tools into a single shared API layer. Functions such as interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, and configuring parameters are consolidated in the common API, while individual SON tools focus on their specialized tasks. This merging eliminates redundancy while preserving full functionality through the coordinated work of the shared API and specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common API is designed as a universal interface that can be used by multiple different SON tools for common operations such as interfacing with network components, retrieving measurements, and configuring parameters. This multi-functional API reduces development burden by providing shared capabilities that multiple tools can utilize, eliminating the need for each tool to implement the same functionality independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10506460B2Self-organizing network mechanism for energy saving during an outage

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

Described herein is a self-organizing network (SON) configured to receive information indicating that access network equipment is experiencing a power outage. In response, the SON determines at least one of a time since the power outage, a present configuration of the access network equipment, a characteristic of the access network equipment, or a value of a performance indicator associated with the access network equipment. The SON then generates an updated configuration of the access network equipment based at least in part on the at least one of the time since the power outage, the present configuration of the access network equipment, the characteristic of the access network equipment, or the value of the performance indicator. Further, the SON then provides the updated configuration to the access network equipment.