vRAN Management Node Failover for Distributed Unit Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) architectures face challenges in providing effective failover mechanisms for Distributed Unit (DU) failures, which can strand radio units and disrupt service due to the complexity of mobile networking environments.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method is provided where a management node maintains service information for DU components, including service characteristics and failover rules, to reasssign radio units to other functional DUs in case of a failure, ensuring minimal connectivity and service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vRAN architecture is implemented to provide radio coverage, then network coverage and service capability are improved, but system complexity increases making failover mechanisms difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring backup DU components and establishing failover rules before failures occur. The management node maintains service information including backup assignments for multiple DUs, so when a failure occurs, the system can immediately activate pre-planned failover procedures without complex real-time decision-making, thus improving reliability while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The management node serves as an intermediary that simplifies the complex failover process. It maintains centralized service information about all DU components and their backup assignments, and automatically executes reassignment decisions when failures occur, shielding the complexity of failover management from the operational level and enabling reliable service continuity.
2Reliability
If failover mechanisms are implemented for DU components, then service reliability is improved, but the complexity of managing service information and reassignment rules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management node implements a universal service information structure that handles multiple DU components and various failure scenarios through a single standardized framework. The service information includes generic fields for DU identifiers, backup assignments, and failover rules that can accommodate any number of DUs and RUs, reducing the complexity of managing failover information across the entire vRAN system.
3Reliability
If radio units are reassigned upon DU failure, then service disruption is minimized, but the time required for detection and reassignment may impact connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing backup DU assignments and failover rules before failures occur. When a DU failure is detected, the management node can immediately execute the pre-configured reassignment without needing to calculate or decide which backup to use, significantly reducing reassignment time and maintaining service continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques presented herein may provide Distributed Unit (DU) failover techniques for a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) architecture. In one example, a method may include maintaining, by a management node for a vRAN, service information for a plurality of distributed unit components for the vRAN in which the service information identifies, at least in part, service characteristics and failover rules for the vRAN. The method may further include determining a failure of a particular DU component of the plurality of DU components; and reassigning one or more particular RUs currently assigned to the particular DU component to one or more other DU components based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular RUs that are re-assigned.