US-12621718-B2 - Cellular system observability architecture

Abstract

A system includes domains comprising systems generating data from the cellular network system. The domains may include cellular towers; a core network located on a public network and comprising a central unit (CU); and a series of clusters that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with the CU and the cellular towers. The system may further include a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network.

Inventors

• Ashish Bansal
• Siddhartha Chenumolu

Assignees

• Boost SubscriberCo L.L.C.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230414

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A cellular network system comprising: domains comprising systems generating data from the cellular network system, the domains comprising: cellular towers; a core network located on a public network and comprising a central unit (CU); and a series of clusters that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with the CU and the cellular towers; a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage layer that comprises a real data transport layer for collecting data on a real time basis on a cloud network where the core of the cellular network is running.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of clusters comprises kubernetes clusters created by a containerized application and maintained on the private network; wherein the series of clusters are managed by a kubernetes master module located on the public network.
4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage layer comprises a data lake layer for collecting data on a long term basis on a cloud network where the core of the cellular network is running.
5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein all of the data from the domains, whether or not there are multiple entities/vendors managing the domains, are collected at a single point or single database and on a common network/server location.
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a streaming platform data store comprising a Kafka bus that communicates with the single collection module.
7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the domains comprise a core, transport, radio access network, PNF, and network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI).
8. 8 . A cellular network system for cellular communications observability, the system comprising: domains comprising systems generating data from the cellular network system, the domains comprising: a series of clusters that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with a central unit (CU); radio and core cloud-native network functions (CNFs); physical network functions (PNFs); a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network.
9. 9 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one storage layer that comprises a real data transport layer for collecting data on a real time basis on a cloud network where the core of the cellular network is running.
10. 10 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , wherein the series of clusters comprises kubernetes clusters created by a containerized application and maintained on the private network; wherein the series of clusters are managed by a kubernetes master module located on the public network.
11. 11 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one storage layer comprises a data lake layer for collecting data on a long term basis on a cloud network where the core of the cellular network is running.
12. 12 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , wherein all of the data from the domains, whether or not there are multiple entities/vendors managing the domains, are collected at a single point or single database and on a common network/server location.
13. 13 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , further comprising a streaming platform data store comprising a Kafka bus that communicates with the single collection module.
14. 14 . The cellular network system of claim 8 , wherein the domains comprise a core, transport, radio access network, PNF, and network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI).
15. 15 . A method for cellular communications observability of a cellular network system, the method comprising: generating data, using domains, from a cellular network employing clusters created using a containerized application, wherein the clusters: (1) communicate with a core network that is located on a public network and that comprises a central unit (CU); and (2) that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with the CU and cellular towers; collecting, using an observability (OBF) layer, the data and store the data over all of the domains, wherein the OBF layer comprises a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and outputting, via a data output module, the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the series of clusters comprises kubernetes clusters created by a containerized application and maintained on the private network; wherein the series of clusters are managed by a kubernetes master module located on the public network.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising at least one storage layer comprises a data lake layer for collecting data on a long term basis on a cloud network where the core of the cellular network is running.
18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein all of the data from the domains, whether or not there are multiple entities/vendors managing the domains, are collected at a single point or single database and on a common network/server location.
19. 19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising a streaming platform data store comprising a Kafka bus that communicates with the single collection module.
20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the domains comprise a core, transport, radio access network, PNF, and network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI).

Description

BACKGROUND Demand for mobile bandwidth continues to grow as customers access new services and applications. To remain competitive, telecommunications companies must cost-effectively expand their network while also improving user experience. Radio access networks (RANs) are an important element in mobile cellular communication networks. However, they often require specialized hardware and software that requires extensive observability to monitor, collect and store data in order to ensure the systems are running properly and efficiently. SUMMARY Various embodiments provide solutions to provide systems and methods for observability by centralizing all of the domains and vendors in one collection layer that extends among all domains. For example, according to an embodiment, disclosed is a system includes domains comprising a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to a cellular network and stores the collected data on a public network, wherein the domains comprise a radio access network (RAN) comprising a core on the public network and DUs on different clusters in a private network, physical network functions (PNFs), and clusters created using a containerized application. The system also includes a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network. According to one embodiment, a cellular network system includes domains including systems generating data from the cellular network system. The domains may include cellular towers; a core network located on a public network and comprising a central unit (CU); and a series of clusters that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with the CU and the cellular towers. The system may further include a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network. According to one embodiment, a cellular network system includes domains comprising systems generating data from the cellular network system, where the domains include a series of clusters that each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with a central unit (CU); radio and core cloud-native network functions (CNFs); and physical network functions (PNFs). The system may also include a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and stores the collected data on a public network, and a data output module to output the data of the cellular network to a business domain on the public network. According to one embodiment, a method for cellular communications observability of a cellular network system is provided. Data is generated, using domains, from a cellular network employing clusters created using a containerized application. The clusters: (1) communicate with a core network that is located on a public network and that comprises a central unit (CU); and (2) each comprise a distributed unit (DU) that communicates with the CU and cellular towers; collecting, using an observability (OBF) layer, the data and store the data over all of the domains. The OBF layer may include a single collection module that collects data from all domains relating to the cellular network system and may store the collected data on a public network. The data of the cellular network is output, via a data output module, to a business domain on the public network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates a high level block diagram showing a 5G cellular network using vDUs and a vCU. FIG. 2 illustrates a high level block diagram showing 5G cellular network with kubernetes clusters. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the system of FIG. 2 but further illustrating details of cluster configuration software, according to various embodiments. FIG. 4 illustrates a method of establishing cellular communications using kubernetes clusters. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of stretching the kubernetes clusters from a public network to a private network, according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of establishing cellular communications using kubernetes clusters stretched from a public network to a private network. FIG. 7 illustrates a system with a centralized observability framework, according to various embodiments. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an overall architecture of an observability framework, according to various embodiments. FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of embodiment and advantages of the present application, in according w