Radio access network (RAN) data exposure in a wireless communication network
AssigneeT-Mobile Innovations LLC
InventorZheng Cai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless communication network serves a User Equipment (UE) over a Radio Access Network (RAN) and externally exposes RAN data. A RAN controller comprises at least one of a near-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller (near-RT RIC) and a non-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller (non-RT RIC). The RAN controller controls the RAN, and the RAN responsively serves the UE. The RAN controller identifies RAN data that characterizes the RAN service to the UE. The RAN controller transfer the RAN data to a Network Exposure Function (NEF). The NEF receives the RAN data from the RAN controller and exposes the RAN data to an external data system like an Application Server (AS).
Claims20
A method of operating a wireless communication network to serve a User Equipment (UE) over a Radio Access Network (RAN) that comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU), the method comprising:
- in a non-real time controller of the RAN:
- controlling a near-real time controller of the RAN;
- in the near-real time controller of the RAN:
- controlling the CU, the DU, and the wireless service provided by the RAN to the UE;
- receiving performance data from the CU and the DU and identifying the performance data that characterizes the wireless service provided to the UE;
- and
- transferring a first portion of the performance data for delivery to a Network Exposure Function (NEF) in a core of the wireless communication network and transferring a second portion of the performance data to the non-real time controller;
- in the non-real time controller:
- receiving the second portion of the performance data from the near-real time controller;
- and
- transferring the second portion of the performance data to the NEF;
- and
- in the NEF;
- receiving the performance data transferred by the near-real time controller and the non-real time controller;
- and
- exposing the performance data to an external data system.
A wireless communication network to serve a User Equipment (UE) over a Radio Access Network (RAN) that comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU), the wireless communication network comprising:
- a non-real time controller of the RAN configured to:
- control a near-real time controller of the RAN;
- the near-real time controller configured to:
- control the CU, the DU, and the wireless service provided by the RAN to the UE;
- receive performance data from the CU and the DU;
- identify the performance data that characterizes the wireless service provided to the UE;
- and
- transfer a first portion of the performance data for delivery to a Network Exposure Function (NEF) in a core of the wireless communication network and transfer a second portion of the performance data to the non-real time controller;
- the non-real time controller configured to:
- receive the second portion of the performance data from the near-real time controller;
- and
- transfer the second portion of the performance data to the NEF;
- and
- the NEF configured to:
- receive the performance data transferred by the near-real time controller and the non-real time controller;
- and
- expose the performance data to an external data system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.