Fronthaul interface for use with a cloud radio access network

A method performed in a system that comprises a plurality (N) of remote units, the plurality of remote units being configured to exchange radio frequency signals with at least one user equipment (UE), the system also comprising a centralized unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units via a fronthaul network and an entity configured to perform deep packet inspection, the entity communicatively coupled to the centralized unit and the plurality of remote units via the fronthaul network, the method comprising:

• transmitting, from the centralized unit, sets of data to the plurality of remote units across the fronthaul network in packets, each of the sets of data mapped to at least one of the plurality of remote units and each of the packets including a respective bitmask with N bits indicating each remote unit the associated packet is intended for, wherein there is a one-to-one mapping between the N RUs and the N bits in the respective bitmask, each bit mapped to a unique single RU;
• wherein a first bitmask indicates two or more RUs a first packet with user plane data is intended for by setting the corresponding two or more of the N bits in the first bitmask;
• and
• performing, by the entity, the deep packet inspection on the packets in order to determine each remote unit the packets are intended for and communicate each packet to each remote unit the packet is intended for over the fronthaul network.