Systems and methods for retrieving RAN information

A method for retrieving Radio Access Network (RAN) information, the method comprising:

• determining, by a processor associated with a Near Real Time Radio access network Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) in a system, a Radio Access Network (RAN) information is required by the Near-RT RIC, based on an occurrence of at least one of non-subscription-based O-RAN use case scenarios and deployment scenarios in the Near-RT RIC, wherein the non-subscription-based O-RAN use case scenarios and deployment scenarios comprise a data inconsistency use case scenario, a late onboarding of the one or more xAPPs deployment scenario, and a rapidly varying RAN information use case scenario wherein the late onboarding of the one or more xAPPs deployment scenario further comprises:
• identifying, by the processor, a delay in the onboarding of the one or more xAPPs, by determining a lapse of pre-defined time for onboarding after start-up of the Near-RT RIC;
• determining, by the processor, historical RAN information is required by the one or more xAPPs;
• transmitting, by the processor, an E2AP message as a RAN information request to the E2 node, when the historical RAN information is required, wherein the RAN information request comprises the E2SM container with the required type of information;
• and
• receiving, by the processor, a RAN information response corresponding to the RAN information request, from the E2 node, wherein the RAN information response is transmitted by the E2 node as an E2AP response message by encoding an E2SM container with a requested RAN information;
• building, by the processor, an E2 Service Model (E2SM) container with a required type of information, when the RAN information is required;
• encoding, by the processor, the built E2SM container in an E2 Application Protocol (E2AP) message;
• transmitting, by the processor, the E2AP message as a RAN information request to an E2 node via an E2 interface associated with the O-RAN, wherein the RAN information request comprises the E2SM container with the required type of information;
• and
• receiving, by the processor, a RAN information response corresponding to the RAN information request, from the E2 node, wherein the RAN information response is transmitted by the E2 node as an E2AP response message by encoding the E2SM container with the requested RAN information, wherein the RAN information is retrieved over the E2 interface in the O-RAN, using a RAN information request response procedure.

A User Equipment (UE) for retrieving Radio Access Network (RAN) information, wherein the UE comprises:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions corresponding to one or more xAPPs associated with the UE, which on execution, cause the processor to:
• determine, Radio Access Network (RAN) information is required by a Near Real Time Radio access network Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC), based on an occurrence of at least one of non-subscription-based O-RAN use case scenarios and deployment scenarios in the Near-RT RIC, wherein the non-subscription-based O-RAN use case scenarios and deployment scenarios comprise a data inconsistency use case scenario, a late onboarding of the one or more xAPPs deployment scenario, and a rapidly varying RAN information use case scenario, wherein for the late onboarding of the one or more xAPPs deployment scenario, the processor is further configured to:
• identify a delay in the onboarding of the one or more xAPPs, by determining a lapse of pre-defined time for onboarding after start-up of the Near-RT RIC;
• determine, historical RAN information is required by the one or more XAPPS;
• transmit an E2AP message as a RAN information request to the E2 node, when the historical RAN information is required, wherein the RAN information request comprises the E2SM container with the required type of information;
• and
• receive a RAN information response corresponding to the RAN information request, from the E2 node, wherein the RAN information response is transmitted by the E2 node as an E2AP response message by encoding an E2SM container with a requested RAN information;
• build an E2 Service Model (E2SM) container with a required type of information, when the RAN information is required;
• encode the built E2SM container in an E2 Application Protocol (E2AP) message;
• transmit the E2AP message as a RAN information request to an E2 node via an E2 interface associated with the O-RAN, wherein the RAN information request comprises the E2SM container with the required type of information;
• and
• receive a RAN information response corresponding to the RAN information request, from the E2 node, wherein the RAN information response is transmitted by the E2 node as an E2AP response message by encoding the E2SM container with the requested RAN information, wherein the RAN information is retrieved over the E2 interface in the O-RAN, using a RAN information request response procedure.