Virtualized Central Unit for 5G Automatic Neighbor Relationship Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G wireless systems face challenges in automatically managing neighbor relationships between radio access technologies, which affects mobility management and network optimization, particularly in virtualized environments where traditional methods are inefficient and require manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that facilitates automatic neighbor relationships (ANR) in 5G networks through a virtualized radio access network (RAN) architecture, utilizing a centralized unit (vCU) to host neighbor cell relation tables, enabling efficient selection of anchor cells between LTE and 5G NR, and supporting dual connectivity, thereby optimizing mobility management and network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual neighbor relationship management is used in traditional networks, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but network optimization efficiency deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork optimization efficiencyVSAvoidmanual intervention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automatic neighbor relationship management where the network infrastructure autonomously discovers, configures, and optimizes neighbor relationships between cells without manual intervention. The vCU automatically exchanges measurement reports and configures handover parameters based on real-time network conditions, eliminating the need for manual network optimization while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where measurement reports from UEs are continuously collected and analyzed by the vCU. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts neighbor relationships and handover parameters to optimize network performance automatically, resolving the contradiction between automation and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Extent of automation

If traditional neighbor relationship management is used, then system complexity remains manageable, but automation level deteriorates requiring manual configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic neighbor relationship managementVSAvoidvirtualized radio access network architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the control functions for multiple cells into a single virtualized central unit (vCU). This consolidation allows the vCU to manage neighbor relationships across multiple cells and radio access technologies centrally, achieving high automation while the complexity is abstracted away and managed uniformly from a single point rather than distributed across multiple physical entities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vCU is designed as a universal platform that can manage neighbor relationships for multiple cells, frequency bands, and radio access technologies (LTE, 5G NR) simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using a single versatile management entity rather than separate management systems for each cell or technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If manual neighbor configuration is implemented, then configuration precision can be maintained, but time consumption increases for network optimization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for neighbor relationship configurationVSAvoidneighbor relationship configuration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring potential neighbor relationships based on geographic location and propagation models before actual handovers occur. When handover conditions are met, the vCU can immediately execute the pre-prepared configuration, significantly reducing the time required for neighbor relationship setup while maintaining accuracy through pre-validation of configuration parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous monitoring and dynamic adjustment of neighbor relationships through ongoing measurement report collection and real-time optimization. This continuous action ensures that neighbor configurations remain accurate and up-to-date with current network conditions, achieving both speed and precision simultaneously through persistent optimization rather than periodic manual updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10827549B2Facilitating automatic neighbor relationships for 5G or other next generation network

Publication Date: 2020.11.03 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Additional attributes to 5th generation (5G) neighbor cell relationships can be incorporated into a neighbor cell relationship table (NCRT). Messages between centralized units can support a hierarchical neighbor relation structure in a virtualized 5G radio access network (RAN). The additional attributes can improve the efficiency of 5G neighbor relation management via intra-centralized unit, inter-centralized unit, inter-radio access technology, and intra-radio access technology mobility management. 5G new radio (NR) long-term evolution (LTE) dual connectivity performance can also be improved by enabling the dual connectivity in the best suitable 5G NR cell.