TWI873458B - System and method for expansion of open radio access network - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for expansion of open radio access network includes a service management and orchestration (SMO) apparatus and a near-real time ran intelligent controller (Near-RT RIC) connected with each other, wherein the SMO apparatus includes a non-real time ran intelligent controller (Non-RT RIC). Each of the SMO apparatus, the Near-RT RIC and the Non-RT RIC includes a first decoder, and at least one of the SMO apparatus, the Near-RT RIC and the Non-RT RIC includes a second decoder. The first decoder is configured to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, the second decoder is configured to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol.

Description

System and method for expanding open radio access network

The present invention relates to a system and method for expanding an open radio access network.

Using 5G open architecture to realize 5G private network and apply it in smart factory scenarios has gradually become a mainstream consensus. 5G open architecture mainly follows the interface standards defined by the international Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) organization, and uses the 5G Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) system to manage and optimize base stations. In addition, the 5G components and nodes defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard also need to follow the standard system architecture or protocol.

However, in the application of 5G open architecture smart factory private network, the deployed network elements are often not limited to the elements defined by 5G 3GPP standard and O-RAN standard, but there will be many peripheral network devices and nodes that together form a smart factory application scenario. Integrating these network devices in smart factories is often a dilemma, mainly because it is impossible to centrally manage or integrate various network information, resulting in many technical limitations and integration costs. Therefore, the application of 5G private network in smart factories slows down the speed of technology development and application implementation, and thus cannot effectively demonstrate the value of smart factories and effectively exert the transmission advantages of 5G transmission technology.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a system and method for expanding an open radio access network to meet the above needs.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for expanding an open radio access network includes: a service management and orchestration device and a near-instant radio access network intelligent controller, wherein the service management and orchestration device includes a non-instant radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller is connected to the service management and orchestration device. The service management and orchestration device, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller each include a first decoder, and at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller includes a second decoder. The first decoder is used to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, and the second decoder is used to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for expanding an open radio access network includes: installing a first decoder in each of a service management and orchestration device, a non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and a near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller; and installing a second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, wherein the first decoder is used to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, and the second decoder is used to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol.

In summary, the system and method for expanding the open radio access network according to one or more embodiments of the present invention can reduce the development and maintenance costs of the intermediate layer in the rest of the hardware of the overall 5G private network. The data transmitted by the expanded module can be integrated with the data of the equipment and/or controller in the 5G open radio access network, realizing the goal and purpose of the 5G open radio access network system with multiple communication interfaces and centralized management, and integrating all communication devices around the smart factory. In addition, through the communication protocol compatibility technology that can be realized through the present invention, the 5G private network management system can support the system management architecture with other communication protocols in addition to supporting only the base station equipment of the open radio access network interface.

The above description of the disclosed content and the following description of the implementation methods are used to demonstrate and explain the spirit and principle of the present invention, and provide a further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following embodiments, and the contents are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to understand the technical contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. Moreover, according to the contents disclosed in this specification, the scope of the patent application and the drawings, any person skilled in the relevant art can easily understand the relevant purposes and advantages of the present invention. The following embodiments are to further illustrate the viewpoints of the present invention, but are not to limit the scope of the present invention by any viewpoint.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, wherein FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for extending an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for extending an O-RAN according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , a system 100 for extending an O-RAN includes a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) device 110 and a Near-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) 130, and the SMO device 110 includes a Non-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC) 120. The NRAN intelligent controller 130 is connected to the service management and orchestration device 110 .

As shown in FIG2 , a method for expanding an open radio access network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: step S21: installing a first decoder in each of a service management and orchestration device, a non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and a near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller; and step S23: installing a second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller. Each of the steps of the above embodiment can be configured to be executed by one or more computer devices.

In step S21, the first decoder 101a is installed in the service management and orchestration device 110, the first decoder 101b is installed in the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120, and the first decoder 101c is installed in the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130. For example, the service management and orchestration device 110 installs the first decoder 101a therein, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120 installs the first decoder 101b therein, and the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120 installs the first decoder 101c therein.

In step S23, the second decoder is installed in at least one of the SMO device 110, the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 130. For example, the SMO device 110 installs the second decoder 102a therein, and/or the NRAN intelligent controller 120 installs the second decoder 102b therein, and/or the NRAN intelligent controller 130 installs the second decoder 102c therein. In other words, the SMO device 110, the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 130 may include the second decoder 102a, the second decoder 102b, and the second decoder 102c, respectively, or one or both of the SMO device 110, the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 130 may include the corresponding second decoder.

For example, in order to achieve the purpose of expanding the open radio access network in the simplest and most intuitive way, the service management and orchestration device 110 can install the second decoder 102a therein, and the second decoder 102a is installed outside the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller 120; in order to avoid the communication device supporting the second communication protocol having too much authority and introducing information security problems, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller 120 can install the second decoder 102b therein and/or the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 can install the second decoder 102c therein.

The first decoders 101a, 101b and 101c are used to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, and the second decoders 102a, 102b and 102c are used to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol. The first communication protocol and the second communication protocol are different communication protocols. For example, the first communication protocol may be an open radio access network, and the second communication protocol may include one or more of the TR069 protocol, the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol, the Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface (RESTful API) protocol, the Telnet protocol, the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and the Virtual Private Network (VPN).

In other words, the SMO device 110, the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 130 may each include a plurality of second decoders for implementing different communication protocols. In addition, when at least two of the SMO device 110, the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 130 need to communicate using a specific second communication protocol, the two devices are preferably each equipped with a second decoder supporting the specific second communication protocol.

Accordingly, by expanding the system and method of the open radio access network, the development and maintenance costs of the intermediate layer developed in the rest of the hardware of the overall 5G private network can be reduced. Subsequently, the data transmitted by the expanded module can be integrated with the data of the equipment and/or controller in the 5G open radio access network, thereby realizing the goal and purpose of the 5G open radio access network system with multiple communication interfaces and centralized management, and integrating all communication devices around the smart factory.

In addition, in the embodiment where the second decoder 102b is installed in the NRAN intelligent controller 120, the first application may be installed in the NRAN intelligent controller 120 first, and then the first application is used as the second decoder 102b, wherein the first application is, for example, rAPP.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first application is installed in the NRAN intelligent controller 120, and the NRAN intelligent controller 120 may not include other translation, conversion and decoding components.

In addition, in the embodiment where the second decoder 102c is installed in the NRAN intelligent controller 130, the second application may be first installed in the NRAN intelligent controller 130 and then used as the second decoder 102c, wherein the second application is, for example, xAPP.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, information from the device of the second communication protocol can be obtained in a shorter time, and the second application can communicate with other applications that are also xAPPs in real time to quickly issue corresponding management decisions.

It should be noted that the method for expanding the open radio access network may include both the implementation of installing the first application program in the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the implementation of installing the second application program in the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130, or may include only one of the implementations, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The multiple steps of the above-mentioned implementations may be configured to be executed by one or more computer devices.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a block diagram of a system for extending an open radio access network according to another embodiment of the present invention. For the convenience of explanation, the first decoder is not shown in FIG. 3, but the service management and arrangement device 110, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 of the system 100' for extending an open radio access network shown in FIG. 3 are the same as the service management and arrangement device 110, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 of the system 100 for extending an open radio access network shown in FIG. 1, so the repeated parts will not be described in detail below.

First, as shown in FIG3 , the service management and orchestration device 110 and the near-instant RAN intelligent controller 130 can be directly connected to the open RAN base station 140, and the non-instant RAN intelligent controller 120 can be indirectly connected to the open RAN base station 140. The open RAN base station 140 supports a first communication protocol. Specifically, the open RAN base station 140 can include a first unit 1401, a second unit 1402, a third unit 1403, and a fourth unit 1404. The first unit 1401 may be a base station (gNB/eNB), the second unit 1402 may be a radio unit (Radio Unit, RU), the third unit 1403 may be a distributed unit (Distributed Unit, DU), and the fourth unit 1404 may be a central unit (Central Unit, CU).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the system 100 ′ for extending the open radio access network further includes a network transmission device 150, that is, the method for charging the open radio access network may further include connecting the network transmission device 150 to at least one of the service management and orchestration device 110, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130, especially in a wired manner, wherein the “at least one” refers to a device/controller equipped with a second decoder. The network transmission device 150 may be a device supporting a second communication protocol to communicate based on the second communication protocol. For example, the network transmission device 150 may be one or more of a base station (gNB/eNB), a radio unit (RU), a distributed unit (DU), and a central unit (CU).

In detail, the service management and orchestration device 110 can be connected to the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 through the first interface I1, and the first decoder of the service management and orchestration device 110 can be connected to the open radio access network base station 140 through the second interface I2; the first decoder of the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 can be connected to the open radio access network base station 140 through the third interface I3. The first interface I1 may be an A1 interface of the open radio access network, used for communication between the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130; the second interface I2 may be an O1 interface of the open radio access network, such as a control interface of Fault/Configuration/Accounting/Performance/Security (FCAPS); and the third interface I3 may be an E2 interface (node) of the open radio access network, used for communication between the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller 130 and a base station.

In other words, the second decoder 102b can perform data transmission with the second decoder 102c of the NRAN intelligent controller 130 via the existing A1 interface (first interface I1).

In addition, the second decoder 102a of the service management and orchestration device 110 can be connected to the network transmission device 150 through the fourth interface I4; the second decoder 102b of the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120 can be connected to the network transmission device 150 through the fifth interface I5; and the second decoder 102c of the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130 can be connected to the network transmission device 150 through the sixth interface I6, wherein the fourth interface I4, the fifth interface I5 and the sixth interface I6 are all interfaces supporting the second communication protocol.

In other words, a first packet outputted from the open radio access network base station 140 to one or more of the service management and orchestration device 110, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130 can be parsed by the first decoder; and a second packet outputted from the network transmission device 150 to one or more of the service management and orchestration device 110, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130 can be parsed by the second decoder.

Accordingly, the network transmission device 150 supporting the second communication protocol can further transmit the message based on the second communication protocol to one or more of the service management and orchestration device 110, the non-instantaneous radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the near-instantaneous radio access network intelligent controller 130 through the second decoder.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , wherein FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for implementing and applying a second decoder according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG4 , the method for implementing and applying the second decoder includes: step S41: deploying the second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and activating the second decoder; step S43: activating the network transmission device; step S45: establishing a connection between the network transmission device and the second decoder; step S47: transmitting the second packet to the second decoder by the network transmission device, and the second decoder stores the data or executes a corresponding action; and step S49: terminating the connection when the second decoder or the network transmission device is disconnected.

In step S41, the second decoder is installed in at least one of the service management and orchestration device 110, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 120 and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130, and the second decoder is activated. The method of installing the second decoder can be the same as step S21 of FIG. 2, the first application program and/or the second application program, so it will not be described in detail here. For the convenience of explanation, it will be assumed that the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130 is installed with the second decoder 102c.

In step S43 and step S45, the network transmission device 150 is activated, and a connection between the network transmission device 150 and the second decoder 102c is established, wherein the network transmission device 150 and the second decoder 102c are connected via the fifth interface 15. In step S47, the network transmission device 150 can receive the second packet from the terminal device, and transmit the second packet to the second decoder 102c, and the second decoder 102c can perform corresponding actions, such as decoding the second packet and/or storing the second packet. In step S49, when the NRAN intelligent controller 130 and/or the network transmission device 150 detects that the second decoder 102c or the network transmission device 150 is disconnected, the connection between the second decoder 102c and the network transmission device 150 is terminated. In other words, the NRAN intelligent controller 130 and/or the network transmission device 150 can detect the connection status of the second decoder 102c and the network transmission device 150 at fixed or non-fixed time intervals after the second decoder 102c and the network transmission device 150 are activated, and terminate the connection between the second decoder 102c and the network transmission device 150 when it is detected that the connection of at least one of the second decoder 102c and the network transmission device 150 is disconnected.

In summary, the system and method for expanding the open radio access network shown in one or more embodiments of the present invention can reduce the development and maintenance costs of the intermediate layer developed in the rest of the hardware of the overall 5G private network. Subsequently, the data transmitted by the expanded module can be integrated with the data of the equipment and/or controller in the 5G open radio access network, thereby achieving the goal and purpose of the 5G open radio access network system with multiple communication interfaces and centralized management, and integrating all communication devices around the smart factory. In addition, the system and method for expanding the open radio access network shown in one or more embodiments of the present invention can effectively solve the problem of plugging in and managing the 5G private network in the form of software modules (xAPP, rAPP) when the existing communication equipment does not support a specific communication protocol, and improve the control and management efficiency of the 5G private network management system. Moreover, through the communication protocol compatibility technology that can be realized through the present invention, the 5G private network management system can support system management architecture with other communication protocols in addition to base station equipment that only supports the open radio access network interface.

Although the present invention is disclosed as above with the aforementioned embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any changes and modifications made within the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope of patent protection of the present invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

100, 100': System for expanding open radio access network 110: Service management and orchestration device 120: Non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 130: Near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller 140: Open radio access network base station 1401: First unit 1402: Second unit 1403: Third unit 1404: Fourth unit 150: Network transmission device 101a: First decoder 101b: First decoder 101c: First decoder 102a: Second decoder 102b: Second decoder 102c: Second decoder I1: First interface I2: Second interface I3: Third interface I4: Fourth interface I5: Fifth interface I6: Sixth interface S21, S23, S41, S43, S45, S47, S49: Steps

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for expanding an open radio access network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for expanding an open radio access network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for expanding an open radio access network according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for implementing and applying a second decoder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

100: System for expanding open radio access network

110: Service management and orchestration equipment

120: Non-instantaneous wireless access network intelligent controller

130: Near-instant wireless access network intelligent controller

101a: First decoder

101b: First decoder

101c: First Decoder

102a: Second decoder

102b: Second decoder

102c: Second decoder

Claims (10)

A system for expanding an open wireless access network comprises: A service management and orchestration device comprising a non-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller; and a near-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller connected to the service management and orchestration device, wherein the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller and the near-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller each comprise a first decoder, and at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller and the near-real-time wireless access network intelligent controller comprises a second decoder, wherein the first decoder is used to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, and the second decoder is used to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol. The system for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 1 further includes a network transmission device for communicating based on the second communication protocol. The system for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 1, wherein the service management and orchestration device includes the second decoder, and the second decoder is installed outside the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller. The system for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 2, wherein the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller includes a first application, and the first application is used to execute the second decoder. The system for extending an open radio access network as described in claim 2, wherein the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller includes a second application, and the second application is used to execute the second decoder. A method for expanding an open radio access network comprises: Installing a first decoder on each of a service management and orchestration device, a non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and a near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller; and installing a second decoder on at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, wherein the first decoder is used to decode a first packet of a first communication protocol, and the second decoder is used to decode a second packet of a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol. The method for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 6 further includes connecting a network transmission device that communicates based on the second communication protocol to at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller. The method for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 6, wherein installing the second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller comprises: Installing the second decoder in the service management and orchestration device and outside the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller. The method for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 7, wherein installing the second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-real-time radio access network intelligent controller comprises: Installing a first application in the non-real-time radio access network intelligent controller; wherein the first application serves as the second decoder. The method for expanding an open radio access network as described in claim 7, wherein installing the second decoder in at least one of the service management and orchestration device, the non-instant radio access network intelligent controller, and the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller comprises: Installing a second application in the near-instant radio access network intelligent controller; wherein the second application serves as the second decoder.