System and method for optimizing carrier and/or cell switch off/on in a telecommunications network

A method for implementing an optimization of a carrier and/or cell switch off/on in an open radio access network (O-RAN) by a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework, the method comprising:

• collecting, by an rApp, O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on via an R1 interface through an NRT-RIC framework and via an O1 interface through a SMO function within the SMO framework from an E2 node, wherein the O1-related data are collected via an open front haul management plane (FH M-Plane) interface between the E2 node and an open radio unit (O-RU);
• based on the collected O1-related data, by the SMO, re-training of at least one artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) model and,
• among the at least one re-trained AI/ML, deploying and activating, by the rApp, one re-trained AI/ML model for inferring data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on within the O-RAN;
• monitoring, by the rApp, via the R1 interface through the NRT-RIC framework and via an O1 interface through the SMO function within the SMO framework the O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on;
• evaluating, by the rApp, the O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on;
• determining, by the rApp, to generate O1 configuration data to prepare and execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on and
• sending, by the rApp, via the R1 interface through the NRT-RIC framework and via the O1 interface through the at the least one SMO function within the SMO framework, the O1 configuration data to prepare and execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on to the least one E2 node;
• implementing, by the E2 node and the O-RU, the cell and/or carrier switch off/on within the O-RAN, wherein the implementing comprises:
• converting, by the E2 node, the O1 configuration data to prepare and execute, and
• instructing, by the E2 node, the O-RU to execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on via the open FH M-Plane.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructions executable by at least one processor configured to implement a non-real-time radio intelligent controller (NRT-RIC), an NRT-RIC framework, at least one SMO function and an rApp hosted by the NRT-RIC, to perform a method for implementing an optimization of a carrier and/or cell switch off/on in an open radio access network (O-RAN) by a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework, the method comprising:

• collecting, by an rApp, O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on via an R1 interface through an NRT-RIC framework and via an O1 interface through a SMO function within the SMO framework from an E2 node, wherein the O1-related data are collected via an open front haul management plane (FH M-Plane) interface between the E2 node and an open radio unit (O-RU);
• based on the collected O1-related data, by the SMO, re-training of at least one artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) model and,
• among the at least one re-trained AI/ML, deploying and activating, by the rApp, one re-trained AI/ML model for inferring data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on within the O-RAN;
• monitoring, by the rApp, via the R1 interface through the NRT-RIC framework and via an O1 interface through the SMO function within the SMO framework the O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on;
• evaluating, by the rApp, the O1-related data providing O1 configurations required to perform the cell and/or carrier switch off/on;
• determining, by the rApp, to generate O1 configuration data to prepare and execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on and
• sending, by the rApp, via the R1 interface through the NRT-RIC framework and via the O1 interface through the at the least one SMO function within the SMO framework, the O1 configuration data to prepare and execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on to the least one E2 node;
• implementing, by the E2 node and the O-RU, the cell and/or carrier switch off/on within the O-RAN, wherein the implementing comprises:
• converting, by the E2 node, the O1 configuration data to prepare and execute and
• instructing, by the E2 node, the O-RU to execute the cell and/or carrier switch off/on via the open FH M-Plane.