UNIFIED CLOUD-BASED CORE NETWORK SUPPORTING MULTIPLE PRIVATE CBRS NETWORKS OF MULTIPLE OPERATORS WITH NETWORK SLICING

• US 20190166506A1
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Published: 05/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Inventors: Ashrafi, Solyman
• Granted Patent: US 10,462,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A unified core network provides core network services to a number of telecommunications network operators. The unified core is partitioned into a number of slices with each slice being the core network for a network operator. Each network operator is then free to define services within its own partition to serve its own users. In this manner, the network operators are freed from building and maintaining a core network while simultaneously enjoying the benefit of having a core network.

Claims

1. A method for using a unified core network to provide private LTE networking capabilities to a plurality of private owners, the method comprising:

launching a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller wherein the SDN controller is virtualized or containerized;

provisioning a Converged Packet Gateway (CPG) wherein the unified core network comprises the CPG, wherein the CPG comprises a CPG data plane, and wherein the SDN controller configures the CPG data plane;

provisioning a user database (UD) storing user related information wherein the unified core network comprises the UD;

launching a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) wherein the unified core network comprises the HSS, wherein the HSS is virtualized or containerized and wherein the HSS obtains at least some of the user related data from the UD;

launching a Mobility Management Entity (MME) wherein the unified core network comprises the MME, wherein the MME is virtualized or containerized, wherein the MME communicates with the HSS for user authentication, and wherein the MME communicates with the CPG to manage communications between user equipment (UE) and the unified core network;

launching a Policy and Charging Rules Function entity (PCRF) wherein the unified core network comprises the PCRF, wherein the PCRF is virtualized or containerized, wherein the PCRF stores at least one rule, wherein the PCRF obtains at least some of the user related information from the UD;

provisioning a Policy Control Enforcement Function entity (PCEF) wherein the unified core network comprises the PCEF, wherein the PCEF comprises a PCEF data plane and wherein the PCEF enforces at least one of the at least one rule;

providing access to the CPG wherein one of the private owners deploys a first air interface that communicates with a first user equipment, wherein another one of the private owners deploys a second air interface that communicates with a second user equipment, and wherein the first user equipment and the second user equipment access the unified core network via the CPG.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first air interface uses the CBRS band after the unified core network has received authorization to use the CBRS band within a network cell associated with the first air interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first air interface is a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) in communication with a Base Band Unit (BBU), wherein the BBU is one of a plurality of BBUs;

wherein a Virtual Remote Access Network (V-RAN) comprises the BBUs, and wherein at least one optical link provides communications between the BBUs and the unified core network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first air interface is an indoor Multefire air interface deployed indoors, wherein the one of the private owners also deploys a second Multefire air interface outdoors, and wherein at least one rule stored by the PCRF determines that the first user equipment communicates with the indoor Multefire interface instead of the second Multefire air interface.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the unified core network comprises a control plane and a data plane, wherein the control plane and the data plane are different internet protocol based networks, wherein the control plane is a software defined network and wherein the data plane is a software defined network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the CPG data plane and the PCEF data plane are virtualized.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first air interface is a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) in communication with one of a plurality of Base Band Units (BBUs), wherein a Virtual Remote Access Network (V-RAN) comprises the BBUs, and wherein the unified core network automatically instantiates an additional BBU within the V-RAN when the first private user deploys an additional RRU.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the unified core network automatically downloads configuration data to at least two BBUs when an additional BBU is instantiated.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the PCRF is partitioned into a plurality of PCRF partitions comprising a core partition, a first owner partition, and a second owner partition, wherein a unified core network operator has access to and control of the core partition, wherein the one of the private owners has access and control of only the first owner partition, wherein the another one of the private owners has access and control of only the second owner partition.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

the unified core network monitoring a plurality of unified core network entities comprising the CPG, the SDN controller, the HSS, the MME, the PCRF, and the PCEF;

the unified core network detecting that one of the unified core network entities has failed; and

the unified core network launching or provisioning a new unified core network entity to replace the one of the unified core network entities that has failed.

11. A unified core network that provides private LTE networking capabilities to a plurality of private owners, the unified core network comprising:

a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller wherein the SDN controller is virtualized or containerized;

a Converged Packet Gateway (CPG) wherein the unified core network comprises the CPG, wherein the CPG comprises a CPG data plane, and wherein the SDN controller configures the CPG data plane;

a user database (UD) storing user related information wherein the unified core network comprises the UD;

a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) wherein the unified core network comprises the HSS, wherein the HSS is virtualized or containerized and wherein the HSS obtains at least some of the user related data from the UD;

a Mobility Management Entity (MME) wherein the unified core network comprises the MME, wherein the MME is virtualized or containerized, wherein the MME communicates with the HSS for user authentication, and wherein the MME communicates with the CPG to manage communications between user equipment (UE) and the unified core network;

a Policy and Charging Rules Function entity (PCRF) wherein the unified core network comprises the PCRF, wherein the PCRF is virtualized or containerized, wherein the PCRF stores at least one rule, wherein the PCRF obtains at least some of the user related information from the UD;

a Policy Control Enforcement Function entity (PCEF) wherein the unified core network comprises the PCEF, wherein the PCEF comprises a PCEF data plane and wherein the PCEF enforces at least one of the at least one rule;

wherein the MME approves access to the CPG by a first user equipment and a second user equipment, wherein one of the private owners deploys a first air interface that communicates with the first user equipment, wherein another one of the private owners deploys a second air interface that communicates with the second user equipment;

wherein the first user equipment access the unified core network via the first air interface and the CPG; and

wherein the second user equipment access the unified core network via the second air interface and the CPG.

12. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the first air interface uses the CBRS band after the unified core network has received authorization to use the CBRS band within a network cell associated with the first air interface.

13. The unified core network of claim 11 further comprising at least one optical link, wherein the first air interface is a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) in communication with a Base Band Unit (BBU), wherein the BBU is one of a plurality of BBUs;

wherein a Virtual Remote Access Network (V-RAN) comprises the BBUs, and wherein the at least one optical link provides communications between the BBUs and the unified core network.

14. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the first air interface is an indoor Multefire air interface deployed indoors, wherein the one of the private owners also deploys a second Multefire air interface outdoors, and wherein at least one rule stored by the PCRF determines that the first user equipment communicates with the indoor Multefire interface instead of the second Multefire air interface.

15. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the unified core network comprises a control plane and a data plane, wherein the control plane and the data plane are different internet protocol based networks, wherein the control plane is a software defined network and wherein the data plane is a software defined network.

16. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the CPG data plane and the PCEF data plane are virtualized.

17. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the first air interface is a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) in communication with one of a plurality of Base Band Units (BBUs), wherein a Virtual Remote Access Network (V-RAN) comprises the BBUs, and wherein the unified core network automatically instantiates an additional BBU within the V-RAN when the first private user deploys an additional RRU.

18. The unified core network of claim 17 wherein the unified core network automatically downloads configuration data to at least two BBUs when an additional BBU is instantiated.

19. The unified core network of claim 11 wherein the PCRF is partitioned into a plurality of PCRF partitions comprising a core partition, a first owner partition, and a second owner partition, wherein a unified core network operator has access to and control of the core partition, wherein the one of the private owners has access and control of only the first owner partition, wherein the another one of the private owners has access and control of only the second owner partition.

20. The unified core network of claim 11 further comprising:

an entity monitor that monitors a plurality of unified core network entities comprising the CPG, the SDN controller, the HSS, the MME, the PCRF, and the PCEF, wherein the entity monitor detects that one of the unified core network entities has failed, and wherein the unified core network launches or provisions a new unified core network entity to replace the one of the unified core network entities that has failed.