Hitless Virtual Gateway Upgrade for Small Cell Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current centralized access controllers for small cell radio access networks are not scalable for deployments with a large number of radio nodes, either being too costly for small deployments or unable to manage thousands of nodes due to scaling limitations, and require dedicated hardware, which is impractical for large and varying network sizes.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based gateway architecture using virtual machine platforms that can scale to support all sizes of deployments, eliminating the need for specialized hardware and allowing for Network Function Virtualization (NFV) to manage and coordinate radio nodes dynamically, with features like UE handovers and RF parameter coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized access controller with dedicated hardware is used, then reliability and coordination capability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the access controller functionality through a virtual machine instance running on standard server hardware. This virtual controller instance replicates the coordination and management capabilities of a physical access controller without requiring specialized hardware, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical access controller hardware with a software-based virtual machine implementation. The virtual controller uses software processes and virtualized resources instead of dedicated physical components, eliminating the need for specialized hardware while preserving the coordination functionality
2Reliability
If a centralized access controller is used for large deployments, then coordination capability is improved, but scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access controller functionality into multiple virtual machine instances that can be distributed across different physical servers. Each virtual controller instance can manage a portion of the radio nodes, allowing the system to scale horizontally by adding more virtual instances rather than requiring a single large-scale physical controller
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine platform provides a universal infrastructure that can host multiple access controller instances with identical functionality. This allows the system to adapt to different deployment sizes by simply deploying additional virtual controller instances on the same standardized hardware platform, enhancing scalability
3Reliability
If dedicated hardware is used for access control, then reliability is improved, but cost and adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the access controller that runs on standardized server hardware instead of dedicated hardware. This virtual instance maintains the reliability and stability of control functions while being deployable on commodity hardware, thereby improving adaptability and reducing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine implementation allows the access controller to be dynamically deployed, moved, and scaled across different physical hosts. This dynamic nature enables flexible adaptation to various deployment scenarios while maintaining consistent control stability through the virtualized environment
4Productivity
If software upgrade is performed on a running access controller, then service continuity is improved, but system stability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a new virtual controller instance with the updated software version before the old instance is decommissioned. This preliminary preparation allows the system to switch to the new instance without interruption, maintaining service continuity while ensuring the new software is fully initialized and ready, thus preserving system stability during the transition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a virtualization platform as an intermediary that allows multiple controller instances to coexist temporarily. This intermediary environment enables the old and new controller instances to run simultaneously, allowing for controlled transitions and ensuring service continuity while maintaining system stability through the isolation and management capabilities of the virtualization layer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells belonging to a radio access network includes initializing a new access controller. The new access controller is to replace a current access controller currently controlling and coordinating the plurality of RNs cell in the cluster. A most lightly loaded one of the plurality of RNs is identified. All UEs currently attached to the identified RN is caused to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster. After all the UEs have been handed-off from the identified RN, the identified RN is rebooted so that it is being controlled and coordinated by the new access controller. The steps of causing the UEs to be handed-off and rebooting the identified RN are repeated for a second one of the plurality of RNs.