xApp Scheduling Conflict Mitigation in Near-RT RIC
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Open RAN architectures, conflicts arise between third-party applications (xApps) due to differing key performance indicators (KPIs) and optimization parameters, leading to degraded network performance.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus is provided with a conflict resolution scheme that hosts multiple applications, schedules them for future time slots, predicts network parameters, detects conflicts, and adjusts scheduling to resolve them without violating service level agreements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple xApps are activated simultaneously in the Near-RT RIC, then functional extensibility and network management capabilities are improved, but conflicts arise between different xApps leading to degraded network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conflict resolution mechanism as an intermediary component within the Near-RT RIC platform. This mediator monitors the operational status and performance impact of multiple xApps, detecting conflicts between them and coordinating their execution to prevent performance degradation while maintaining functional extensibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops that continuously monitor network performance metrics and xApp interactions. When conflicts are detected through performance degradation signals, the system adjusts xApp scheduling and configuration dynamically, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that maintains reliability while preserving adaptability
2Ease of operation
If xApps are scheduled without conflict detection, then scheduling simplicity is maintained, but conflicts occur leading to SLA violations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary conflict detection and resolution mechanisms that analyze potential xApp conflicts before they impact network performance. By predicting conflicts based on xApp configurations and historical data, the system proactively adjusts scheduling to prevent SLA violations while maintaining operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus hosts a plurality of applications for managing network functions of a radio access network and schedules them for one or more future time slots. The apparatus obtains one or more predicted future values of one or more network parameters of the radio access network for the one or more future time slots. The apparatus determines whether or not at least one conflict exists in the scheduling of the plurality of applications based on the one or more predicted future values of the one or more network parameters. In response to determining that the at least one conflict exists, the apparatus resolves the at least one conflict by adjusting scheduling of at least one application involved in the at least one conflict.