US-12621719-B2 - Conflict management in a shared O-RAN architecture

Abstract

Provided herein are techniques to facilitate conflict management in a shared Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture. In one instance, a method can be performed by a conflict manager of a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller of a shared RAN including radio unit (RU) nodes provided by a host operator. The method can include obtaining each of a requested radio unit (RU) configuration from each of a distributed unit (DU) node operated by each of a tenant operator and determining whether there are any conflicts among RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration. In one instance, upon determining one or more conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, the method may include providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration in accordance with a modification.

Inventors

• Mark Grayson
• Indermeet Singh Gandhi

Assignees

• CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230616

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method performed by a conflict manager of a near-real-time radio access network (RAN) intelligent controller (near-real-time RIC) of a shared RAN including a plurality of radio unit (RU) nodes in which the shared RAN is provided by a host operator, the method comprising: obtaining each of a requested RU configuration from each of a distributed unit (DU) node operated by each of a tenant operator of a plurality of tenant operators for the plurality of RU nodes that are shared for use among the plurality of tenant operators, wherein each requested RU configuration comprises RU configuration parameters requested by each DU node; determining whether there are any conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node; upon determining no conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; or upon determining one or more conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, either: providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration in accordance with a modification; or providing a response to at least one DU node indicating that the at least one DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using a corresponding requested RU configuration of the at least one DU node.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conflict manager of the near-real-time RIC directly interfaces with each DU node via a corresponding interface with each DU node.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the corresponding interface with each DU node is a corresponding Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) E2AP interface with each DU node.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining any conflicts among each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node and among any RU configurations for any applications operating at the near-real-time RIC.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether any requested RU configuration obtained from any DU node is not permitted; and upon determining that a particular requested RU configuration obtained from a particular DU node is not permitted, providing a response to the particular DU node indicating that the particular DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using the particular requested RU configuration.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification is a sharing schedule that each DU node is to follow in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration.
7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the sharing schedule identifies one or more of: one or more time slots that each DU node is to use in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; or one or more days that each DU node is to use in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each DU node is an Open Radio Access Network DU (O-DU) node, and the plurality of RU nodes are a plurality of Open Radio Access Network DU (O-RU) nodes.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tenant operators are different from each other and are each different than the host operator.
10. 10 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a conflict manager of a near-real-time radio access network (RAN) intelligent controller (near-real-time RIC) of a shared RAN including a plurality of radio unit (RU) nodes in which the shared RAN is provided by a host operator, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising: obtaining each of a requested RU configuration from each of a distributed unit (DU) node operated by each of a tenant operator of a plurality of tenant operators for the plurality of RU nodes that are shared for use among the plurality of tenant operators, wherein each requested RU configuration comprises RU configuration parameters requested by each DU node; determining whether there are any conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node; upon determining no conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; or upon determining one or more conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, either: providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration in accordance with a modification; or providing a response to at least one DU node indicating that the at least one DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using a corresponding requested RU configuration of the at least one DU node.
11. 11 . The media of claim 10 , wherein the determining includes determining any conflicts among each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node and among any RU configurations for any applications operating at the near-real-time RIC.
12. 12 . The media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising: determining whether any requested RU configuration obtained from any DU node is not permitted; and upon determining that a particular requested RU configuration obtained from a particular DU node is not permitted, providing a response to the particular DU node indicating that the particular DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using the particular requested RU configuration.
13. 13 . The media of claim 10 , wherein the modification is a sharing schedule that each DU node is to follow in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration.
14. 14 . The media of claim 13 , wherein the sharing schedule identifies one or more of: one or more time slots that each DU node is to use in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; or one or more days that each DU node is to use in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration.
15. 15 . A conflict manager of a near-real-time radio access network (RAN) intelligent controller (near-real-time RIC) of a shared RAN including a plurality of radio unit (RU) nodes in which the shared RAN is provided by a host operator, comprising: at least one memory element for storing data; and at least one processor for executing instructions associated with the data, wherein executing the instructions causes the conflict manager to perform operations, comprising: obtaining each of a requested RU configuration from each of a distributed unit (DU) node operated by each of a tenant operator of a plurality of tenant operators for the plurality of RU nodes that are shared for use among the plurality of tenant operators, wherein each requested RU configuration comprises RU configuration parameters requested by each DU node; determining whether there are any conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node; upon determining no conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; or upon determining one or more conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, either: providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration in accordance with a modification; or providing a response to at least one DU node indicating that the at least one DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using a corresponding requested RU configuration of the at least one DU node.
16. 16 . The conflict manager of claim 15 , wherein the conflict manager of the near-real-time RIC directly interfaces with each DU node via a corresponding interface with each DU node.
17. 17 . The conflict manager of claim 16 , wherein the corresponding interface with each DU node is a corresponding Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) E2AP interface with each DU node.
18. 18 . The conflict manager of claim 15 , wherein the determining includes determining any conflicts among each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node and among any RU configurations for any applications operating at the near-real-time RIC.
19. 19 . The conflict manager of claim 15 , wherein executing the instructions causes the conflict manager to perform further operations, comprising: determining whether any requested RU configuration obtained from any DU node is not permitted; and upon determining that a particular requested RU configuration obtained from a particular DU node is not permitted, providing a response to the particular DU node indicating that the particular DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using the particular requested RU configuration.
20. 20 . The conflict manager of claim 15 , wherein the modification is a sharing schedule that each DU node is to follow in configuring the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to network equipment and services. BACKGROUND Networking architectures have grown increasingly complex in communications environments, particularly mobile networking environments. In particular, virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) architectures have been developed to provide radio coverage for mobile networks. However, there are significant challenges in facilitating operation among elements of vRAN architectures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system that may be used to facilitate conflict management in a shared Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture, according to an example embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a message sequence diagram illustrating various example operations that may be performed in order to facilitate conflict management in the shared O-RAN architecture of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a method according to an example embodiment. FIG. 4 is a hardware block diagram of a computing device that may perform functions associated with any combination of operations discussed in connection with techniques described for embodiments herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview The current Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Alliance Network Configuration (NETCONF) protocol configuration model does not handle or provide conflict management capabilities for scenarios in which multiple shared O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) configurations may be requested by multiple tenant operators utilizing shared O-RUs in a shared O-RAN architecture. As a result, shared O-RU operations may have negative implications when multiple tenants have conflicting O-RU configuration demands (statically or dynamically). Provided herein are embodiments through which a new capability can be provided through conflict manager logic configured for a near-real-time Radio Access Network (RAN) Intelligent Controller (near-RT) RIC in which the conflict manager logic/near-RT RIC can interface via each of a corresponding E2 interface with each of a corresponding O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) operated/owned by each of a corresponding different tenant operator in order to facilitate conflict management functionality for a shared O-RAN architecture. Broadly, for example, shared O-RU configuration requests including corresponding O-RU configuration parameters can be sent by each O-DU to the conflict manager logic, which can validate the requests by determining whether any conflicts exist among the O-RU configurations/parameters and/or whether the shared O-RU configurations/parameters are permitted. A response can be sent to each O-DU indicating whether each shared O-RU configuration requested by each O-DU is allowed, is allowed with a recommended modification (e.g., is allowed to be utilized in accordance with a sharing schedule) or is not allowed. Other features/embodiments are discussed herein. In at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided that may be performed by a conflict manager of a near-RT RIC of a shared RAN including a plurality of RU nodes in which the shared RAN is provided by a host operator may be provided in which the method includes obtaining each of a requested RU configuration from each of a DU node operated by each of a tenant operator of a plurality of tenant operators for the plurality of RU nodes that are shared for use among the plurality of tenant operators, wherein each requested RU configuration comprises RU configuration parameters requested by each DU node; determining whether there are any conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration obtained from each DU node; upon determining no conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration; and upon determining one or more conflicts among the RU configuration parameters for each requested RU configuration, either: providing a response to each DU node indicating that each DU node is allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using each requested RU configuration in accordance with a modification; or providing a response to at least one DU node indicating that the at least DU node is not allowed to configure the plurality of RU nodes using a corresponding requested RU configuration of the at least one DU node. Example Embodiments Generally, a disaggregated Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture can include the splitting of a base station, such as a gNB, into multiple components or nodes offering different levels or layers of functionality/operations, such as a Central (or Centralized) Unit (CU), one or several Distributed Units (DUs), and one or several Radio Units (RUs). DUs may be referred to herein interchangeably as DU components or nodes and RUs may be referred to interchangeably as RU components or