Centralized Radio Resource Management in Split RAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current split Radio Access Network (RAN) architectures face challenges in centralized Radio Resource Management (RRM) and interference coordination, leading to higher latencies, wasted capacity, and lower HARQ combining gains due to the need for low latency links between central controllers and Remote Radio Units (RRUs), which limits the effectiveness of centralized scheduling and interference management.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that facilitates centralized RRM and interference coordination by using a Central Scheduling Module (CSM) and Remote Scheduling Modules (RSMs) to provide scheduling and interference constraints to remote access points (APs) on a periodic basis, allowing for optimized local scheduling and interference coordination, while tolerating higher latencies and reducing overhead communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centralized RRM is implemented in a split RAN architecture, then network resource management efficiency is improved, but latency increases and HARQ combining gains decrease due to the need for low latency links between central controllers and RRUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RAN architecture into centralized RRM functions (resource allocation, interference coordination) and distributed RRU functions (radio transmission, local buffering). This segmentation allows the central controller to manage resources efficiently while RRUs maintain local autonomy for time-critical operations, resolving the contradiction between centralized management efficiency and latency requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the central controller pre-calculate and distribute resource allocation decisions to RRUs before actual transmission occurs. This advance planning allows RRUs to execute transmissions without real-time communication delays, maintaining both centralized optimization and low latency performance.
2Ease of operation
If centralized control is implemented to manage communication network resources, then access control and mobility control are centralized, but timing constraints for radio resource management are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving each RRU localized decision-making authority for time-critical scheduling operations while the central controller handles non-time-critical resource management. This distributed-intelligence approach ensures timing constraints are met at the local level while maintaining centralized oversight for overall resource optimization.
3Productivity
If low latency links are required between central controllers and RRUs, then centralized scheduling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and deployment flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-critical scheduling functions from the central controller and places them locally at each RRU. This extraction eliminates the need for low-latency feedback links for scheduling decisions, while the central controller retains responsibility for overall resource coordination through less time-sensitive signaling, thereby reducing link latency requirements and deployment complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating feedback information at a first remote access point (AP), wherein the feedback information is associated with one or more user equipment served by the first remote AP; determining constraints for the first remote AP at a central controller based on the feedback information received from the first remote AP and feedback information received from one or more other remote APs that neighbor the first remote AP, wherein the constraints are determined for a plurality of transmission time intervals (TTIs); and scheduling resource blocks (RBs) for the one or more user equipment served by the first remote AP for one or more of the plurality of TTIs based, at least in part, on constraints received from the central controller.