Virtualized RAN Unit Placement for Latency-Power Tradeoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G mobile networks face challenges in balancing latency, power consumption, and quality of service requirements due to the tradeoff between coverage and speed, particularly with mmWave spectrum limitations and centralized resource distribution.
Innovation Solution
Intelligently deploying virtualized distributed units (VDUs) and centralized units (VCUs) closer to user equipment or core network components, dynamically reassigned within a data center hierarchy to meet changing latency and power requirements, and generating redundant links to mitigate failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If virtualized distributed units are deployed closer to user equipment to reduce latency, then data communication latency decreases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic deployment of virtualized distributed units (VDUs) that can be reassigned between different data center layers based on changing network conditions. The system monitors latency requirements and power consumption metrics, then dynamically migrates VDU instances between edge data centers and core data centers to optimize the tradeoff between latency reduction and power consumption management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the deployment parameter (location of VDU) based on network conditions. By adjusting where VDUs are instantiated (closer to user equipment for low latency, or closer to core network for power efficiency), the system adapts to different operational requirements and resolves the contradiction between latency and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If virtualized distributed units are deployed closer to core network components to reduce power consumption, then energy consumption decreases, but data communication latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts VDU deployment locations based on real-time monitoring of network conditions. When power efficiency is the priority, VDUs are consolidated at core data centers. When low latency is required, VDUs are migrated to edge data centers closer to user equipment, thus dynamically resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment parameter (location) of virtualized distributed units is changed based on operational priorities. The system can switch between deploying VDUs at edge locations (for low latency) and core locations (for power efficiency), adapting to different network conditions and requirements.
3Reliability
If redundant links are generated to mitigate server and link failures, then system availability increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates redundant copies of network paths and connections between virtualized distributed units and centralized units. When a primary link or server fails, traffic is automatically redirected through alternative redundant paths, ensuring high availability without requiring complex hardware redundancy at each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network function virtualization layer that acts as an intermediary, managing redundancy at the software level rather than requiring physical redundancy. This virtualization layer handles failover and link management, reducing the complexity burden on individual network devices while maintaining high system availability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for improving telecommunications services by intelligently deploying radio access network components and redundant links within a data center hierarchy to satisfy latency, power, availability, and quality of service requirements for one or more network slices are described. The radio access network components may include virtualized distributed units (VDUs) and virtualized centralized units (VCUs). To satisfy a latency requirement for a network slice, various components of a radio access network may need to be redeployed closer to user equipment. To satisfy a power requirement for the network slice, various components of the radio access network may need to be redeployed closer to core network components. Over time, the components of the radio access network may be dynamically reassigned to different layers within a data center hierarchy in order to satisfy changing latency requirements and power requirements for the network slice.