EP-4736505-A1 - METHOD FOR MANAGING A RADIO ACCESS NETWORK AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC DEVICE

EP4736505A1EP 4736505 A1EP4736505 A1EP 4736505A1EP-4736505-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing a radio access network (RAN) which is connected to a core network (CN), the method being implemented by a computer application (xApp) of a controller (CTRL) of the radio access network and comprising: receiving, from a module (MOD_KPI) of the core network (CN), a value representative of an end-to-end quality of service parameter of a connection between a user terminal (UE) and an input module (UPF) of the core network (CN), or of a connection between the user terminal (UE) and an application (cApp) which is accessed by the user terminal and connected to the input module of the core network via a data network (DN); and, managing the radio access network (RAN) as a function of the value obtained.

Inventors

COSTANZO, SALVATORE
KOCISZEWSKI, Kamil
YASSIN, Mohamad
DUPREZ, Marion
OZI B O, Adrian

Assignees

ORANGE

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240626

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Method for managing a radio access network (RAN) connected to a core network (CN), the method being implemented by a computer application (xApp) of a controller (CTRL) of the radio access network and comprising: − a reception (S150), from a module (MOD_KPI) of the core network (CN), of a value representative of an end-to-end quality of service parameter of a connection between a user terminal ( UE) and an input module (UPF) of the core network (CN), or of a connection between the user terminal (UE) and an application (cApp) accessed by said user terminal and connected to the input module of the core network through a data network (DN); and, − a management (S160) of the radio access network (RAN) according to the value obtained. [Claim 2] A management method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter corresponds to a latency or a throughput, and the value is representative of a current state of the latency or throughput of the connection. [Claim 3] A management method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter corresponds to a latency or a throughput, and the value is representative of a prediction of the latency or throughput of the connection, the method further comprising a step of predicting (S270), by the core network (CN), the latency or throughput of the connection. [Claim 4] Management method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the application (xApp) of the controller of the radio access network comprises an HTTP client, the module (MOD_KPI) of the core network comprises an HTTP server, and at least one function for obtaining a value representative of a quality of service parameter implemented by said module (MOD_KPI) is exposed to the application (xApp) of the controller of the radio access network through of an application programming interface (API), the method further comprising the following steps, prior to receiving (S130) the value: − an access (S120), by the computer application (xApp) of the controller ( CTRL) of the radio access network (RAN), to said application programming interface (API), and, − a transmission (S130), by the computer application (xApp) of the controller (CTRL) of the radio access network (RAN) and to the module (MOD_KPI) of the core network, of a request to obtain a result of an application of said at least one obtaining function. [Claim 5] Management method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the controller (CTRL) of the radio access network comprises an H TTP client accessible by the application (xApp) of the controller of the radio access network; the module (MOD_KPI) of the core network (CN) comprises an HTTP server; and at least one function for obtaining a value representative of a quality of service parameter implemented by said module (MOD_KPI) is exposed to the controller (CTRL) via an application programming interface (API), the method further comprising the following steps, prior to receiving (S130) the value: − an access (S120), by the controller (CTRL) of the radio access network (RAN), to said application programming interface (API), − a transmission (S130), by the controller (CTRL) of the radio access network (RAN) and to the module (MOD_KPI) of the core network, of a request for obtaining a result of an application of said at least one obtaining function. [Claim 6] Management method according to claim 4 or 5, in which said parameter corresponds to a latency or a flow rate, and said at least one obtaining function is one of: − obtaining a value representative of a current state of the latency or the flow rate of the connection between the user terminal (UE) and the input module (UPF) of the core network, − obtaining a value representative of a current state of the latency or throughput of the connection between the user terminal (UE) and the application (cApp) accessed by said user terminal, − obtaining a value representative of a prediction of the latency or throughput of the connection between the user terminal (UE) and the input module (UPF) of the core network, and − obtaining a value representative of a prediction of the latency or throughput of the connection between the user terminal (UE) and the application (cApp) accessed by said user terminal (UE). [Claim 7] Management method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the radio access network (RAN) comprises at least one transmitting device (gNB), and the management (S160) of the radio access network (RAN) comprises a determination of a transmission power of the transmitting device (gNB) according to the value obtained, when data is exchanged with said user terminal (UE). [Claim 8] Management method according to claim 7, wherein the management step (160) comprises an increase (1100) of the transmission power of the transmitting device (gNb) if the latency has a value greater than a first threshold value, and a decrease (1140) of the transmission power of the transmitting device (gNb) if the latency has a value less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value. [Claim 9] A management method according to claim 7, wherein the management step (160) comprises an increase (1100) in the transmission power of the transmitting device (gNb) if the flow rate has a value lower than a first threshold value, and a decrease (1140) in the transmission power of the transmitting device (gNb) if the flow rate has a value greater than a second threshold value, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value. [Claim 10] Management method according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which the transmission power is adapted when time and frequency resource units (PRB) allocated to said user terminal (UE) are used. [Claim 11] Management method according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the input module of the core network is a “ user plane function” module. [Claim 12] Computer program comprising instructions for implementing a management method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, when said program is executed by a computer. [Claim 13] A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program according to claim 12 is recorded. [Claim 14] An electronic device (D_CTRL) comprising a radio access network (RAN) controller (CTRL) configured to manage a radio access network (RAN) connected to a core network (CN), the controller including a computer application (xApp) comprising: − a module (MOD_RX) for receiving a value representative of an end-to-end quality of service parameter of a connection between a user terminal (UE) and an input module (UPF) of the core network ( CN), or of a connection between the user terminal (UE) and an application (cApp) accessed by said user terminal and connected to the input module of the core network through a data network (DN); and − a module (MOD_PROC) for managing the radio access network (RAN) as a function of the value.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method for managing a radio access network and associated electronic device Technical field [0001] The present invention belongs to the general field of telecommunications, and in particular wireless communications implemented on radio-type networks such as mobile networks (e.g. 4G, 5G, B5G, etc.), etc. It relates more particularly to a method for managing a radio access network. It also relates to an electronic device comprising a radio access network controller configured to implement such a method. Prior art [0002] In order to adapt to the continuous and ever-faster growth of data traffic transmitted by wireless telecommunications systems, different technologies are currently implemented, and are still being improved with a view to optimal exploitation in the years to come. [0003] The architecture of wireless telecommunications networks currently deployed or in the process of being deployed is defined by the standardization consortium known as 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). This is the case in particular for so-called second generation ("2G or GSM"), third generation ("3G"), and fourth generation ("4G") wireless networks. [0004] Up to the fourth generation, the network architectures defined by the 3GPP consortium are most often based on specific equipment, dedicated to specific functionalities, whether at the level of the access network or the core network, in particular with regard to the transmission of packets from or to a mobile terminal. [0005] The lack of flexibility and scalability inherent in this type of architecture has led the 3GPP consortium to consider adopting more flexible architectures for the generation of wireless networks known as "5G", in order to be able to respond quickly to extremely diverse demands in terms of traffic and/or quality of service. [0006] To meet these extremely diverse constraints, 5G relies in particular on the division of network functions into services, and on the virtualization of these network functions. The virtualization of network functions consists of deploying functions usually performed by dedicated and specific equipment on generic servers located in data centers ("data centers" according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology). These functions are then implemented in the form of computer programs that can be easily activated, deactivated and configured according to needs. Memory resources or computing capacity can then be dynamically allocated . [0007] The target performance requirements of a 5G cellular network have been defined by the IMT-2020 recommendation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). More specifically, maximum theoretical values in terms of latency and throughput have been defined. However, the architecture currently defined by the 3GPP consortium does not make it possible to obtain end-to-end latency and/or throughput values, and a fortiori to adapt the configuration of the telecommunications network according to these values. Presentation of the invention [0008] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular those set out above, by proposing a solution which allows a computer application of a controller of the radio access network to obtain a value representative of an end-to-end quality of service parameter determined by a module of the core network, so as to optimize the configuration of this radio access network. [0009] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for managing a radio access network connected to a core network, the method being implemented in implemented by a computer application of a controller of the radio access network and comprising: − a reception, from a module of the core network, called " end-to-end performance indicator evaluation module", of a value representative of an end-to-end quality of service parameter of a connection between a user terminal and an input module of the core network, or of a connection between the user terminal and an application accessed by said user terminal and connected to the input module of the core network through a data network,; and, − a management of the radio access network according to the value obtained. [0010] An end-to-end performance criterion offers the advantage of reliably reflecting the performance of a network. Furthermore, the values of an end-to-end quality of service parameter make it possible to quantify the quality of the data actually received by the user terminal. [0011] As mentioned below, the module called "input module" is notably configured to route data from the user terminal through the core network, and is in this case considered as an input module of the core network, from the point of view of the terminal. [0012] In general, it is considered that the steps of a method should not be interpreted as being linked to a notion of temporal succession. [0013] In particular modes of implementation, the management meth