Backward compatible methods for signal energy-saving sleep modes over O-RAN fronthaul interface

A control plane signaling method for reducing energy consumption of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) radio units used in O-RAN Control, User, and Synchronization planes (O-RAN CUS) and including an O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) controlling a O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) via control-plane messaging transmitted on a fronthaul interface, the control plane signaling method comprising steps of:

• using Section Type 0 to indicate Physical Resource Block (PRB) blanking of component carriers in a band-sector in a control-plane message transmitted on the fronthaul interface;
• wherein in a DownLink (DL) direction when the control-plane message is transmitted from the O-DU to the O-RU, the PRB blanking is performed by the O-DU, and in an UpLink (UL) direction when the control-plane message is transmitted from the O-RU to the O-DU, the PRB blanking is performed the O-RU follows instructions received from the O-DU;
• using an inactivity timer located at the O-DU or the O-RU to indicate transition from an active state to a sleep state for the O-RU;
• wherein the transition comprises transition to different sleep states for the O-RU and the different sleep states comprise at least four sleep modes, sleep mode 1 (SM1), sleep mode 2 (SM2), sleep mode 3 (SM3), and sleep mode 4 (SM4) where O-RU energy uses extended sleep during at least four extended sleep modes, extended sleep mode 1 (eSM1), extended sleep mode 2 (eSM2), extended sleep mode 3 (eSM3), and extended sleep mode 4 (eSM4) is as follows:
• eSM4<eSM3<eSM2<eSM1.

A control plane signaling method for reducing energy consumption of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) radio units used in O-RAN Control, User, and Synchronization planes (O-RAN CUS) and including an O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) controlling a O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) via control-plane messaging transmitted on a fronthaul interface, the control plane signaling method comprising steps of:

• using Section Type 0 to indicate Physical Resource Block (PRB) blanking of component carriers in a band-sector in a control-plane message transmitted on the fronthaul interface;
• wherein in a DownLink (DL) direction when the control-plane message is transmitted from the O-DU to the O-RU, the PRB blanking is performed by the O-DU, and in an UpLink (UL) direction when the control-plane message is transmitted from the O-RU to the O-DU, the PRB blanking is performed the O-RU follows instructions received from the O-DU;
• defining a bitmap in the control-plane message formed by a reserved octet in Section Type 0 where the bitmap signals a sleep state for the O-RU to directly transition from an active state to a sleep state for the O-RU;
• wherein the bitmap defining a sleep state comprises a first bitmap, the control plane signaling method further comprising a second bitmap defining a length of a sleep cycle.