# US 2019/0320486 A1 · Virtualized Wireless Base Stations Network

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- Number: US 2019/0320486 A1
- Document ID: US20190320486A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/954,568
- Filed: 2018-04-16
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16
- Assignees: Phazr, Inc.
- Applicants: Phazr, Inc.
- Inventors: Farooq Khan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190320486A1

## CPC

- H04B 7/024: Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
- H04W 76/27: Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
- G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects}
- H04B 7/0413: MIMO systems
- H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming}
- G06F 2009/45591: {Monitoring or debugging support}
- G06F 2009/45595: {Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances}
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A virtualized radio base station node includes a plurality of virtualized radio units. The virtualized radio units include a remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), MIMO antenna arrays, and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The virtualized radio units also include a distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer. The virtualized radio units also include a central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer. The remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are located in at least one of the radio units. The remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are implemented as one or more virtual machines shared by the radio units.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A virtualized radio base station node, comprising:
a plurality of virtualized radio units comprising:
a remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), MIMO antenna arrays, and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
a distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer; and
a central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer,
wherein the remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are located in at least one of the radio units, and wherein the remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are virtualized and shared by the plurality of radio units.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 1, wherein the remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are integrated into the radio units.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 1, wherein the remote radio head, the distributed unit and the central unit are not remotely located from the radio units.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 1, wherein the radio unit comprises N sub-sectors, each sub-sector providing 360/N degrees coverage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer are implemented as a first virtual machine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer are implemented as second virtual machine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the channel coding, the rate matching and the scrambling are implemented as a third virtual machine.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the modulation, the MIMO layer mapping, the precoding are implemented as a fourth virtual machine.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the resource element mapping and the beamforming port expansion are implemented as a fifth virtual machine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer are implemented as a first container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer are implemented as a second container.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the channel coding, the rate matching and the scrambling are implemented as a third container.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the modulation, the MIMO layer mapping, the precoding are implemented as a fourth container.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The virtualized base station node of claim 1, wherein the resource element mapping and the beamforming port expansion are implemented as a fifth container.

### Claim 19

A virtualized radio base station node, comprising:
a plurality of radio units comprising:
a remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), MIMO antenna arrays, and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and
a distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer,
wherein the remote radio head and the distributed unit are located in at least one of the radio units, and wherein the remote radio head and the distributed unit are virtualized and shared by the plurality of radio units.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 19, further comprising a central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, wherein the central unit is located in the radio units, and wherein the central unit is virtualized and shared by the plurality of radio units.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 19, wherein the remote radio head and the distributed unit are integrated into the radio units.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The virtualized radio base station node of claim 19, wherein the remote radio head and the distributed unit are not remotely located from the radio units.

### Claim 23

A virtualized radio base station network, comprising:
a plurality of radio base station nodes, each node including a plurality of radio units, comprising:
a remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), MIMO antenna arrays, and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and
a distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer,
wherein the remote radio head and the distributed unit are located in the radio units, and wherein the remote radio head, and the distributed unit are shared by the plurality of radio units; and
a central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, wherein the central unit is connected to the radio units via a fronthaul link, wherein the central unit is shared by the plurality of radio units.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The virtualized radio base station network of claim 23, wherein the fronthaul link is an IP link configured to transport IP packets.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The virtualized radio base station network of claim 23, wherein the fronthaul link is an Ethernet link configured to transport Ethernet packets.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The virtualized radio base station network of claim 23, wherein the fronthaul link does not transport digitized baseband data.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer are implemented as a first virtual machine.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer are implemented as a second virtual machine.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the channel coding, the rate matching and the scrambling are implemented as a third virtual machine.

### Claim 32 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the modulation, the MIMO layer mapping, the precoding are implemented as a fourth virtual machine.

### Claim 33 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the resource element mapping and the beamforming port expansion are implemented as a fifth virtual machine.

### Claim 34 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 35 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 36 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer are implemented as a first container.

### Claim 37 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer are implemented as a second container.

### Claim 38 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the channel coding, the rate matching and the scrambling are implemented as a third container.

### Claim 39 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the modulation, the MIMO layer mapping, the precoding are implemented as a fourth container.

### Claim 40 (depends on 23)

The virtualized base station network of claim 23, wherein the resource element mapping and the beamforming port expansion are implemented as a fifth container.

### Claim 41

A radio base station node, comprising:
a virtualized remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
a virtualized distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer; and
a virtualized central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer,
wherein the virtualized remote radio head, the virtualized distributed unit and the virtualized central unit are located in radio units, and wherein the virtualized remote radio head, the virtualized distributed unit and the virtualized central unit are shared by the radio units.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The radio base station node of claim 41, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The radio base station node of claim 41, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 44 (depends on 41)

The radio base station node of claim 41, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 45 (depends on 41)

The radio base station node of claim 41, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 46

A radio base station network, comprising:
a plurality of radio base station nodes, each node including a plurality of radio units, comprising:
a virtualized remote radio head including a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
a virtualized distributed unit including a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer,
wherein the virtualized remote radio head and the virtualized distributed unit are located in the radio units, and wherein the virtualized remote radio head, and the virtualized distributed unit are shared by the radio units; and
a virtualized central unit including a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, wherein the virtualized central unit is connected to the base station nodes via a fronthaul link, wherein the virtualized central unit is shared by the base station nodes.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein the fronthaul link is an IP link configured to transport IP packets.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein the fronthaul link is an Ethernet link configured to transport Ethernet packets.

### Claim 49 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein the fronthaul link does not transport digitized baseband data.

### Claim 50 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 51 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more virtual machines (VMs).

### Claim 52 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein at least one of the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical (PHY-high) layer are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 53 (depends on 46)

The radio base station network of claim 46, wherein higher physical layer functions including at least one of channel coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, MIMO layer mapping, precoding, resource element mapping and beamforming port expansion are implemented as one or more containers.

### Claim 54

A method for wireless communication, comprising:
receiving a first uplink signal at a first virtualized radio unit;
receiving a second uplink signal at a second virtualized radio unit,
wherein the first and second uplink signals are processed by one or more virtual machines shared by both the first and second radio units, and
wherein a first virtual machine implements at least one of a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and
wherein a second virtual machine implements at least one of a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The method of claim 54, wherein the first and second uplink signals are transmitted by a user equipment (UE), and wherein the UE switches connection from the first virtualized radio unit to the second virtualized radio unit without a transfer of context information from the first virtualized radio unit to the second virtualized radio unit.

### Claim 56 (depends on 54)

The method of claim 54, wherein a third virtual machine implements at least one of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer.

### Claim 57 (depends on 54)

The method of claim 54, wherein the first and second virtualized radio units are located in a same radio base station node.

### Claim 58 (depends on 54)

The method of claim 54, wherein the first and second virtualized radio units are located in different radio base station nodes.

### Claim 59

A method for wireless communication, comprising:
transmitting a first downlink signal by a first virtualized radio unit;
transmitting a second downlink signal by a second virtualized radio unit,
wherein prior to transmission the first and second downlink signals are processed by one or more virtual machines shared by both the first and second radio units, and
wherein a first virtual machine implements at least one of a lower physical layer (PHY-Low), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and
wherein a second virtual machine implements at least one of a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a higher physical (PHY-high) layer.

### Claim 60 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, further comprising:
transmitting, by the first virtualized radio unit, the first downlink signal to a user equipment (UE);
transmitting, by the second virtualized radio unit, the second downlink signal to the UE during a second time interval,
wherein the UE switches connection from the first virtualized radio unit to the second virtualized radio unit without a transfer of context information from the first virtualized radio unit to the second virtualized radio unit.

### Claim 61 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein a third virtual machine implements at least one of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer.

### Claim 62 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein the first and second virtualized radio units are located in a same radio base station node.

### Claim 63 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein the first and second virtualized radio units are located in different radio base station nodes.