Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques of user equipment localization in centralized or cloud radio access networks (C-RANs). In the UE localization techniques of the present disclosure, a base station (gNB) configures a plurality of radio units (RUs) serving a cell to transmit one or more downlink signals using various time and/or frequency resources to user equipment (UEs) of the cell. The UEs use the one or more downlink signals to measure quality of downlink channels between the UEs and the plurality of RUs and reports the measured qualities in uplink using one or more CSI reports. The gNB then selects one or more RUs from the plurality of RUs for each UE based on the received CSI reports. Finally, the gNB transmits downlink data towards the UEs and receives uplink data from the UEs using their respective RUs.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units (RUs), each being configured to exchange RF signals with at least one UE. The C-RAN also includes a central unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of RUs via a fronthaul interface. The fronthaul interface includes a unit having a switching function and configured to perform deep packet inspection on a received packet in order to determine whether an RU identification is present in the packet. The RU identification, if present in the packet, indicates at least one RU the packet is intended for. When the RU identification is present in the packet, the unit is also configured to communicate, for each of the at least one RU, at least a portion of the packet to the RU based on a comparison of the RU identification with at least one bit pattern for the RU.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units; and a central unit communicatively coupled to the remote units via a fronthaul network. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to respective subsets of remote units across the fronthaul network. The central unit is also configured to determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to a respective one of the subsets of remote units. The central unit is also configured to, for each of the sets of data, if at least one of the multicast groups wholly contains the respective subset of remote units mapped to that set of data, transmit that set of data to the respective subset of remote units over the fronthaul network by multicasting that set of data to the multicast group that best matches the respective subset of remote units mapped to that set of data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic X2-U/Xn-U link selection are provided herein. In one example, a method includes determining whether a local communication link between a first base station (FBS) and a second base station (SBS) is possible. In response to determining that the local communication link is possible, the method includes sending a request, including a local IP address for a FBS BBU, to the SBS for an address suitable for establishing a communication link. The method includes determining whether to include a local IP address for an SBS BBU in a response to the request. In response to determining to include the local IP address for the SBS, the method includes sending the response, including the local IP address for the SBS BBU to the FBS. The method includes establishing the local communication link between the FBS and SBS using the local IP addresses without using a security gateway.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system that is configured to communicate at least two different types of fronthaul data from a plurality of baseband units to a shared radio point using a single application-layer protocol that supports at least two types of elements. Each of the at least two types of elements is configured for a respective one of the at least two different types of fronthaul data. The system is configured so at least some of the elements communicated using the application-layer protocol include one or more sub-elements, where each sub-element comprises a type field, a length field, and a value portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a distributed unit (DU) is configured to do the following in connection with wirelessly transmitting user data to a UE using less than all of a plurality of radio units (RUs): include, in one or more user-plane messages for that UE that are communicated to the RUs, common header fields that contain a RU mask field for storing a bit mask comprising a plurality of bit positions. Each bit position is associated with a respective one of the RUs. Each RU is configured to: use the respective RU mask field included in any user-plane messages received by that RU in order to determine if the received user-plane message is intended for that RU and use the received message if the received message is intended for that RU and discard the received message if the received message is not intended for that RU.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a technique for in-band signaling of time stamp information where a kernel driver executing in kernel space modifies a received timing message (for example, a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Delay Request message) to include timing information associated with the time the timing message was received by a network interface. This is done so that an application running in the user space can obtain the timing information from the modified timing message and reconstruct a timestamp for the received timing message (for example, a PTP T4 timestamp) for use in implementing at least a part of a packet-based synchronization protocol (for example, the PTP).

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a centralized radio access network (C-RAN) system that is configured so that physical layer processing for the wireless interface is split so that some of the physical layer processing is performed in a controller and some of the physical layer processing is performed in a plurality of radio points. The system is configured so that scrambling of first downlink data to be communicated to a UE over the wireless interface is performed in the controller and so that scrambling of second downlink data to be communicated to said UE over the wireless interface is performed in one of the radio points. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtualized wireless base station networking solutions are provided. In one embodiment, a controller for a telecommunications wireless base station comprises: one or more physical network interfaces; at least one processor programed to execute code on the controller: one or more virtualized entities for one or more virtual network functions of the base station, wherein a first virtual network function comprises a plurality of functional applications that each includes a respective network interface for connecting to a data network; a virtual network interface dedicated stack associated with each network interface, wherein a respective virtual network interface dedicated stack defines for each network interface a virtual media access control (VMAC) address, a virtual network interface (VF), a virtual local area network (VLAN), and a logical subnetwork internet protocol (IP) address.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dual-connectivity split-bearer packet management are presented. In one embodiment, a dual-connectivity, split-bearer base station, comprises: at least one centralized unit (CU) comprising a CU-CP) and at least one CU-UP; at least one DU coupled to the at least one CU-UP, wherein the at least one DU is coupled to one or more RUs configured as a first cell group to establish a first radio link for communicating with UE within a wireless coverage area; an eNodeB coupled to the at least one CU-UP, wherein the eNodeB comprises one or more RPs configured as a second cell group to establish a second radio link for communicating with UE within the wireless coverage area; and a traffic split controller configured to selectively direct PDCP packets to either the DU or the eNodeB as a function of packet delay times associated with the DU and the eNodeB.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a multi-carrier radio point for use in a radio access network (RAN). The multi-carrier radio point is configured so that some of the processing and hardware resources provided by the radio point can be assigned to baseband units (BBUs) in a flexible manner. A single multi-carrier radio point can be used with multiple BBUs, where the processing and hardware resources used for the multiple BBUs need not be configured and used in the same way.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of remote units; a centralized unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units via a fronthaul network; and an entity that performs deep packet inspection. The centralized unit transmits sets of data to the plurality of remote units across the fronthaul network in packets, each of the sets of data mapped to at least one of the plurality of remote units and each of the packets including a respective indicator indicating each remote unit the associated packet is intended for, wherein each indicator comprises a plurality of bit positions where each bit position is mapped to a different one of the plurality of remote units. The entity performs the deep packet inspection on the packets to determine each remote unit the packets are intended for and communicate each packet to each remote unit the packet is intended for over the fronthaul network.

Abstract: Orthogonal DMRS ports with resource block reuse in a single cell is provided. ABS comprises: a BBE and RUs. The BS transmits user data to each of a plurality of UEs on a PDSCH using a PRB allocation for the cell. The PRB and cell are the same for all UEs. The PRB comprises DMRS symbols. The BS transmits user data to each UE on the PDSCH using a respective non-intersecting subset of the RUs. No RU transmits user data on the PDSCH using the PRB to more than one UE. The BBE: determines non-intersecting sets of DMRS ports; assigns one set to each UE; and causes the BS to transmit UE-specific DMRS to UE on the DMRS ports in the set assigned to that UE using only a respective non-intersecting subset of RUs used for transmitting user data to that UE on the PDSCH using the PRB.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system comprising a distributed unit (DU) and a plurality of remote units (RUs) to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using a wireless interface. The DU and RUs are communicatively coupled to each other over a fronthaul and are configured to communicate over the fronthaul using an O-RAN fronthaul interface. The DU and RUs are configured to communicate O-RAN control-plane and user-plane messages that include a new O-RAN section extension for use in communicating different section data to different RUs. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A base station includes at least one remote unit (RU) that exchanges radio frequency (RF) signals with a user equipment (UE) using an air interface. The base station also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one RU. The controller forms first RLC protocol data units (PDUs) for a first cell and second RLC PDUs for a second cell based on Radio Link Control (RLC) service data units (SDUs). A first at least one processor in the controller performs first Medium Access Control (MAC) scheduling for the first cell based on a first buffer occupancy update to produce a first scheduling decision. A second at least one processor in the controller performs second MAC scheduling for the second cell based on a second buffer occupancy update to produce a second scheduling decision.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a multi-carrier radio point for use in a centralized radio access network (C-RAN). The multi-carrier radio point is configured so that the processing and hardware resources provided by the radio point can be associated with controllers of the C-RAN in a flexible manner. A single multi-carrier radio point can be used with multiple controllers to serve multiple cells, where the processing and hardware resources used for the multiple controllers need not be configured and used in the same way.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an open radio access network (O-RAN) distributed antenna system (DAS) that comprises a central access node (CAN) configured to communicatively couple at least one O-RAN distributed unit (O-DU) to the O-RAN DAS, where the O-DU is configured to communicate with a single O-RAN remote unit (O-RU) entity. The O-RAN DAS also includes a plurality of O-RAN remote units (O-RUs) communicatively coupled to the CAN over a fronthaul network, where the O-DU, CAN, and O-RUs are configured to natively use an O-RAN fronthaul interface to communicate fronthaul data over the fronthaul network. The CAN is configured to appear to the O-DU as the single O-RU entity for a cell served by the O-DU even though the CAN is configured to serve the cell using multiple O-RUs that form a simulcast group for that cell. One or more CANs can be used. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units; a central unit communicatively coupled to the remote units via a fronthaul network; and an entity coupled to the fronthaul network configured to perform deep packet inspection. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to respective subsets of remote units across the fronthaul network and determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to a respective one of the subsets of remote units. The central unit is also configured to add a respective indicator, based on the mapping, to packets for each set of data, wherein each respective indicator indicates each remote unit that the respective packet and set of data is intended for. The central unit is also configured to transmit the packets for the sets of data, each with the respective indicator, to the entity over the fronthaul network.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units (RUs), each being configured to exchange RF signals with at least one UE. The C-RAN also includes a central unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of RUs via a fronthaul interface. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to a plurality of remote units across the fronthaul interface. The central unit is also configured to determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to at least one of the plurality of remote units. The central unit is also configured to add a respective indicator, based on the mapping, to each set of data, wherein each respective indicator indicates each remote unit that the respective set of data is intended for. The central unit is also configured to broadcast the sets of data, each with the respective indicator, to the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: A distributed radio access network (RAN) includes a new radio unit (RU) being connected to a front-haul network. The new RU determines its own Internet Protocol (IP) address based on its MAC address; and send a discovery message to all radio controllers in the front-haul network via a multicast address. The distributed RAN also includes a plurality of radio controllers communicatively coupled to the new RU via the front-haul network. Each of the plurality of radio controllers are configured to receive the discovery message and determine whether the new RU is assigned to the respective radio controller. Each of at least one radio controller, to which the new RU is assigned, establishes at least one configuration session with the new RU.