Integration of physical test environments with a cloud-native cellular core
AssigneeBoost SubscriberCo L.L.C.
InventorsDhaval Mehta, Brian Mengwasser, Andrew Trujillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various arrangements for performing testing using a cellular network are presented. A distributed unit (DU) can be activated to be used exclusively for an isolated test environment. A communication path can be established between the DU and a radio unit (RU) located at a location to where the isolated test environment is located. Communication between the DU and a centralized unit (CU) can be established such that the CU is used as part of the isolated test environment. A test slice can be defined on the cellular network that isolates all traffic on the DU and RU from a production slice. The CU can service both the test slice and the production slice.
Claims18
A cellular network system having an integrated isolated test environment, the cellular network system comprising:
- a cellular network, comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a cellular network core, wherein the cellular network services a production slice and the RAN comprises a centralized unit (CU) and the cellular network core of the cellular network is hosted using a public cloud computing platform;
- an isolated test environment, comprising:
- a radio unit (RU) dedicated to the isolated test environment;
- a distributed unit (DU) dedicated to the isolated test environment, wherein:
- the RU communicates with the DU;
- the DU communicates with the CU of the RAN of the cellular network that services the production slice;
- and
- the DU communicates with the CU using a test slice.
A method for performing testing using a cellular network, the method comprising:
- activating, on the cellular network, a distributed unit (DU) to be used exclusively for an isolated test environment, wherein a cellular network core of the cellular network is hosted using a public cloud computing platform;
- establishing, on the cellular network, a communication path between the DU and a radio unit (RU) located at a location to where the isolated test environment is located;
- establishing, on the cellular network, communication between the DU and a centralized unit (CU) to be used as part of the isolated test environment;
- defining, on the cellular network, a test slice that isolates all traffic on the DU and RU from a production slice, wherein the CU services the test slice and the production slice;
- and
- performing testing using the RU and DU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.