TWI823450B - Base station management system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A base station management system is provided in the invention. The base station management system includes a base station management device and a first base station. The first station may transmit a first connection request to the base station management device through a communication interface based on a default port number and an IP address of the base station management device. After the base station management device receives the first connection request, the base station management device may establish the connection between the first base station based on the first connection request and change the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number to a first unused port number to release the default port number. The first base station may re-establish the connection between the base station management device based on the first unused port number.

Description

Base station management system and method

Embodiments of the present invention mainly relate to a base station management technology, in particular to a base station management technology in which a plurality of base stations are managed through a base station management device in a Call-Home mechanism.

In the 5G Open Radio Access Network (ORAN), the Element Management System (EMS) network management side and the base station side can communicate through the O1 interface. The O1 interface is implemented based on the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF). NETCONF is a network management protocol developed and standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

In a traditional base station deployment method, the EMS network management end needs to know the Internet Protocol Address (IP address) of each base station, and based on the IP address of each base station, through Transmission Control Protocol, TCP) protocol and Secure Shell (Secure Shell, SSH) protocol to establish a connection with each base station and manage each base station. However, when the number of base stations is large, the EMS network management end will spend a lot of time establishing a connection with each base station. Therefore, a Call-Home mechanism is proposed. In the Call-Home mechanism, when a base station leaves the factory, the IP of the EMS network management end and the default port number (default port number) 4334 are written into the base station. When the base station is powered on, it will automatically establish a connection with the EMS network management terminal through TCP/SSH using the IP and default port number of the EMS network management terminal according to the Call-Home mechanism.

However, in the current Call-Home mechanism, each base station makes a connection request to the EMS network management end through the same group of EMS network management end IPs and default port numbers. When the first base station has established a connection with the EMS network management terminal, the default port number will be occupied if the connection is to be kept uninterrupted. Therefore, when the second base station initiates a connection request again, because the default port number used has been occupied by the first base station, the second base station and the EMS network management terminal will not be able to make subsequent connections. Therefore, if the Call-Home mechanism is used for connection at this stage, the EMS network management end will only be able to manage one base station.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, embodiments of the present invention provide a base station management system and method.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a base station management system is provided. The base station management system may include a base station management device and a first base station. The base station management device can be used to manage a plurality of base stations. The first base station can send a first connection request to the base station management device through a communication interface according to a default port number and a base station management device address. After the base station management device receives the first connection request, the base station management device can establish a connection with the first base station according to the first connection request, and change the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number. An unused first port number to free up the default port number. The first base station can re-establish a connection with the base station management device according to the first port number.

In one embodiment, after the base station management device changes the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number to the first port number, the base station management device may first terminate the connection with the first base station. After the base station management device terminates the connection with the first base station, the first base station can send a first connection request to the base station management device through the communication interface according to the first port number and the address of the base station management device. After receiving the first connection request, the base station management device can re-establish the connection with the first base station according to the first connection request.

In an embodiment, the base station management system further includes a second base station. The second base station can send a second connection request to the base station management device through the communication interface according to the default port number and the base station management device address. After the base station management device receives the second connection request, the base station management device can establish a connection with the second base station according to the second connection request, and change the port number corresponding to the second base station from the default port number. An unused secondary port number to free up the default port number. The second base station can re-establish a connection with the base station management device according to the above-mentioned second port number.

In one embodiment, the first port number and the second port number are included in an unused port number range. In one embodiment, the base station management device may add a value to the first port number to generate a second port number.

In one embodiment, the communication interface may be an O1 interface. In one embodiment, the connection established between the base station management device and the base station is based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) protocol and Secure Shell (Secure Shell, SSH) protocol.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a base station management method is provided. This base station management method uses a base station management system. The steps of the base station management method include: using a first base station of the base station management system to send a first connection request to the base station management system through a communication interface based on a preset port number and a base station management device address. A base station management device; after the base station management device receives the first connection request, the base station management device establishes a connection between the base station management device and the first base station according to the first connection request; through the base station management device, the first base station is The corresponding port number is changed from the default port number to an unused first port number to release the default port number; and the first base station re-manages the base station according to the first port number. The device establishes a connection.

Regarding other additional features and advantages of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make slight changes and modifications based on the base station management system and method disclosed in the implementation method of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. And get.

What is described in this section is the best way to implement the present invention. The purpose is to illustrate the spirit of the present invention but not to limit the protection scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the appended patent application scope. .

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a base station management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the base station management system 100 may include a base station management device 110, at least one base station 120 and a communication interface 130. It should be noted that the block diagram shown in Figure 1 is only for convenience in explaining the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to Figure 1. The base station management system 100 may also include a plurality of base stations.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station management system 100 can be applied in an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture. In addition, in the present invention, the connection established between the base station management device 110 and the base station 120 is based on the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) protocol and the Secure Shell (Secure Shell, SSH) protocol. In addition, the call-home mechanism is used to establish a connection between the base station management device 110 and the base station 120 of the present invention, that is, the base station initiates a connection request based on the information from the network management end.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station management device 110 may be an element management system (Element Management System, EMS). The base station management device 110 may be used to manage a plurality of base stations. As shown in Figure 1, the base station management device 110 may include a communication device 111, a storage device 112 and a processing device 113. It should be noted that the base station management device 110 shown in Figure 1 is only for convenience in explaining the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to Figure 1. The base station management device 110 may also include other components.

The communication device 111 can transmit data or information to the base station 120 and receive data or information from the base station 120 through the communication interface 130 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the communication interface 130 may be an O1 interface.

The storage device 112 may be used to store software and firmware codes, system data, user data, etc. of the base station management device 110 . The storage device 112 may be a volatile memory (such as a random access memory (RAM)) or a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory). (flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM)), a hard disk, or a combination of the above storage devices.

The processing device 113 can be used to control the operations of the communication device 111 and the storage device 112 . The processing device 113 can also be used to execute the program code stored in the storage device 112 . When the code executes, the code that accompanies specific data in a data structure may be called a processor logic unit or a stack instance. Therefore, the processing device 113 can be regarded as including a plurality of processor logic units, each processor logic unit being used to execute one or more specific functions or tasks of the corresponding software module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station 120 may be a Next Generation Node B (Generation Node B, gNB). As shown in Figure 1, the base station 120 may include a communication device 121, a storage device 122 and a processing device 123. It should be noted that the base station 120 shown in Figure 1 is only for convenience in explaining the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to Figure 1. Other components may also be included in the base station 120.

The communication device 121 can transmit data or information to the base station management device 110 and receive data or information from the base station management device 110 through the communication interface 130 (for example, the O1 interface).

The storage device 122 may be used to store software and firmware codes, system data, user data, etc. of the base station 120 . In addition, in one embodiment, the storage device 122 may pre-store a default port number (for example: 4334) and a base station management device address (ie, the Internet Protocol address of the base station management device 110 ( Internet Protocol Address, IP address)). The default port number and base station management device address may be pre-written into the storage device 122 before the base station 120 comes out. The storage device 122 may be a volatile memory (such as a random access memory (RAM)) or a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory). (flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM)), a hard disk, or a combination of the above storage devices. The processing device 123 can be used to control the operations of the communication device 121 and the storage device 122 .

The processing device 123 can also be used to execute the program code stored in the storage device 122 . When the code executes, the code that accompanies specific data in a data structure may be called a processor logic unit or a stack instance. Therefore, the processing device 123 can be regarded as including a plurality of processor logic units, each processor logic unit being used to execute one or more specific functions or tasks of the corresponding software module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the base station 120 is powered on, the base station 120 can automatically communicate via the communication interface 130 (for example, the O1 interface) based on the default port number (for example: 4334) pre-stored in the storage device 122 and the address of the base station management device. ), sending a connection request to the base station management device 110.

When the base station management device 110 receives the connection request from the base station 120, the base station management device 110 can authenticate the base station 120 according to the information carried in the connection request (for example, the name and password corresponding to the base station 120). After the authentication is successful, the base station management device 110 can send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120 through the communication interface 130 (ie, the O1 interface).

Then, the base station management device 110 can change the port number corresponding to the base station 120 from the default port number to an unused port number (for example, from 4334 to 43334) to release the default port number ( This means that the default port number is currently unused), and the base station management device 110 will also notify the base station 120 of the change of the port number through the communication interface 130 . After the default port number is released, other base stations can then use the default port number to establish connections with the base station management device 110 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station management device 110 can select one or more unused port numbers from a range of unused port numbers. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the base station management device 110 wants to select the next unused port number, the base station management device 110 can add a value (for example: add 1) to the previously selected port number to generate The port number to be selected next time.

After the base station management device 110 changes the port number corresponding to the base station 120 from the default port number to an unused port number, the base station management device 110 can start monitoring the port corresponding to the changed port number, and first The connection with the base station 120 is terminated.

When the base station management device 110 terminates the connection with the base station 120, the base station 120 can resend the connection request to the base station management device 110 through the communication interface 130 based on the modified port number and the base station management device address. The base station management device 110 can then re-establish the connection with the base station 120 according to the connection request from the base station 120 .

By analogy, when another base station sends a connection request to the base station management device 110 through the communication interface 130 according to the default port number (for example: 4334) and the base station management device address to request to establish a connection, the base station management The device 110 will also perform the same operation as the above embodiment. The detailed content will be explained below using Figures 2A-2B as an example.

Figures 2A-2B are flow charts for establishing connections between a base station management device and multiple base stations according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flow chart shown in Figures 2A-2B can be applied to the base station management system 100. The base station 120 can also be applied to the base stations 120-1~120-3 shown in Figures 2A-2B. As shown in Figures 2A-2B, in step S201, the base station 120-1 can send a message through the communication interface (i.e., O1 interface) based on the pre-stored default port number (for example: 4334) and the base station management device address. The connection request is sent to the base station management device 110.

In step S202, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-1 according to the connection request from the base station 120-1, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-1 through the communication interface.

In step S203, the base station management device 110 changes the port number corresponding to the base station 120-1 from the default port number to an unused first port number (for example, from 4334 to 43334) to release the Default port number, and notify the base station 120-1 of the port number change information through the communication interface. In addition, the base station management device 110 may start monitoring the port corresponding to the changed first port number.

In step S204, the base station management device 110 first terminates the connection with the base station 120-1.

In step S205, the base station 120-1 will resend the connection request to the base station management device 110 through the communication interface (ie, O1 interface) based on the first connection port number and the address of the base station management device.

In step S206, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-1 according to the connection request from the base station 120-1, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-1 through the communication interface.

In step S207, since the default port number (for example: 4334) has been released, the base station 120-2 can send through the communication interface (ie, O1 interface) according to the pre-stored default port number and the base station management device address. A connection request is sent to the base station management device 110.

In step S208, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-2 according to the connection request from the base station 120-2, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-2 through the communication interface.

In step S209, the base station management device 110 changes the port number corresponding to the base station 120-2 from the default port number to an unused second port number (for example, from 4334 to 43335) to release the Default port number, and notify the base station 120-2 of the port number change information through the communication interface. In addition, the base station management device 110 may start monitoring the port corresponding to the changed second port number.

In step S210, the base station management device 110 first terminates the connection with the base station 120-2.

In step S211, the base station 120-2 will resend the connection request to the base station management device 110 through the communication interface (ie, O1 interface) according to the second port number and the address of the base station management device.

In step S212, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-2 according to the connection request from the base station 120-2, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-2 through the communication interface.

In step S213, since the default port number (for example: 4334) has been released, the base station 120-3 can send through the communication interface (i.e., O1 interface) according to the pre-stored default port number and the base station management device address. A connection request is sent to the base station management device 110.

In step S214, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-3 according to the connection request from the base station 120-3, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-3 through the communication interface.

In step S215, the base station management device 110 changes the port number corresponding to the base station 120-3 from the default port number to an unused third port number (for example, from 4334 to 43336) to release the Default port number, and notify the base station 120-3 of the port number change information through the communication interface. In addition, the base station management device 110 may start monitoring the port corresponding to the changed third port number.

In step S216, the base station management device 110 first terminates the connection with the base station 120-3.

In step S217, the base station 120-3 will resend the connection request to the base station management device 110 through the communication interface (ie, O1 interface) based on the third port number and the address of the base station management device.

In step S218, when the base station management device 110 successfully authenticates the base station 120-3 according to the connection request from the base station 120-3, the base station management device 110 will send a connection establishment success message to the base station 120-3 through the communication interface.

According to the flow chart shown in Figures 2A-2B, the base station management device 110 can simultaneously manage the base stations 120-1~120-3 through the Call-Home connection mechanism. In addition, it should be noted that in the flow chart shown in Figures 2A-2B, only base stations 120-1~120-3 are shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The flow chart shown in Figures 2A-2B can also be applied to manage a larger number of base stations.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of a base station management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. This base station management method can be applied to the base station management system 100. As shown in Figure 3, in step S310, a first base station of the base station management system 100 sends a first connection request to the base station through a communication interface based on a default port number and a base station management device address. The base station management system 100 is a base station management device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication interface may be an O1 interface.

In step S320, after the base station management device of the base station management system 100 receives the first connection request, the base station management device of the base station management system 100 establishes a connection between the base station management device of the base station management system 100 and the first base station according to the first connection request. Wired.

In step S330, the base station management device of the base station management system 100 changes the port number corresponding to the first base station of the base station management system 100 from the default port number to an unused first port number to release the default Port number.

In step S340, the first base station of the base station management system 100 re-establishes a connection with the base station management device of the base station management system 100 according to the first port number.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station management method further includes: the base station management device of the base station management system 100 changes the port number corresponding to the first base station of the base station management system 100 from the default port number to the first port number. , the base station management device of the base station management system 100 interrupts the connection between the base station management device of the base station management system 100 and the first base station. After the base station management device of the base station management system 100 interrupts the connection with the first base station of the base station management system 100, the first base station of the base station management system 100 uses the communication interface according to the first connection port number and the address of the base station management device. Send the first connection request to the base station management device of the base station management system 100, and after receiving the first connection request, the base station management device of the base station management system 100 re-establishes the base station management device of the base station management system 100 according to the first connection request. Connection with the first base station of the base station management system 100.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base station management method further includes using a second base station of the base station management system 100 to send a second connection through a communication interface according to a default port number and a base station management device address. The request is made to a base station management device of the base station management system 100 . After the base station management device of the base station management system 100 receives the second connection request, the base station management device of the base station management system 100 establishes a connection between the base station management device of the base station management system 100 and the second base station according to the second connection request. The base station management device of the base station management system 100 changes the port number corresponding to the second base station of the base station management system 100 from the default port number to an unused second port number to release the default port number. The second base station of the base station management system 100 re-establishes a connection with the base station management device of the base station management system 100 according to the second port number.

According to the base station management method proposed by the present invention, the base station management system can use the Call-Home mechanism to establish connections between the base station management device and multiple base stations to manage multiple base stations simultaneously.

The serial numbers in this specification and the scope of the patent application, such as "first", "second", etc., are only for convenience of explanation, and there is no sequential relationship between them.

The methods and algorithm steps disclosed in the specification of the present invention can be directly applied to hardware and software modules or a combination of both by executing a processor. A software module (including execution instructions and related data) and other data can be stored in data memory, such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory (flash memory), and read-only memory (ROM) , erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), scratchpad, hard disk, portable disk, compact disc read-only memory (CD- ROM), DVD, or any other computer-readable storage media format known in the art. A storage medium can be coupled to a machine device, such as a computer/processor (for convenience of explanation, represented by a processor in this specification), through which the processor can read information (such as a program code), and write information to the storage medium. A storage medium can integrate a processor. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) includes a processor and storage media. A user equipment includes an application special integrated circuit. In other words, the processor and the storage medium are included in the user equipment in a manner that is not directly connected to the user equipment. Additionally, in some embodiments, any product suitable for a computer program includes a readable storage medium, where the readable storage medium includes program code related to one or more disclosed embodiments. In some embodiments, the computer program product may include packaging materials.

The paragraphs above use multiple levels of description. Obviously, the teachings of this article can be implemented in a variety of ways, and any specific architecture or functionality disclosed in the examples is only a representative situation. Based on the teachings of this article, anyone familiar with this art should understand that each aspect disclosed in this article can be implemented independently or two or more aspects can be combined and implemented.

Although the present disclosure has been disclosed above through embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Anyone skilled in the art may make slight changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection of the present invention is The scope shall be determined by the appended patent application scope.

100: Base station management system

110: Base station management device

111, 121: Communication device

112, 122: Storage device

113: Processing device

120, 120-1, 120-2, 120-3: base station

130: Communication interface

S201~S218, S310~S340: steps

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a base station management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A-2B are flow charts for establishing connections between a base station management device and multiple base stations according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart of a base station management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

S310~S340: steps

Claims (16)

A base station management system includes: a base station management device for managing a plurality of base stations; and a first base station that sends a first connection through a communication interface based on a preset port number and a base station management device address. request to the above-mentioned base station management device, wherein after the above-mentioned base station management device receives the above-mentioned first connection request, the above-mentioned base station management device establishes a connection with the above-mentioned first base station according to the above-mentioned first connection request, and connects the above-mentioned first base station The corresponding port number is changed from the above-mentioned default port number to an unused first port number to release the above-mentioned default port number, wherein the above-mentioned first base station reconnects with the above-mentioned first port number according to the above-mentioned first port number. The above base station management device establishes a connection. The base station management system of claim 1, wherein after the base station management device changes the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number to the first port number, the base station management device interrupts communication with the third base station. A connection to a base station. The base station management system of claim 2, wherein after the base station management device interrupts the connection with the first base station, the first base station uses the communication interface based on the first port number and the address of the base station management device, The first connection request is sent to the base station management device, and after receiving the first connection request, the base station management device re-establishes a connection with the first base station according to the first connection request. For example, the base station management system of claim 1 further includes: A second base station, based on the above-mentioned default port number and the address of the above-mentioned base station management device, sends a second connection request to the above-mentioned base station management device through the above-mentioned communication interface, wherein the above-mentioned base station management device receives the above-mentioned second connection After the request, the base station management device establishes a connection with the second base station according to the second connection request, and changes the port number corresponding to the second base station from the default port number to an unused one. The second port number is used to release the default port number, and the second base station re-establishes a connection with the base station management device according to the second port number. The base station management system of claim 4, wherein the first port number and the second port number are included in an unused port number range. The base station management system of claim 4, wherein the base station management device adds a value to the first port number to generate the second port number. For example, in the base station management system of claim 1, the communication interface is an O1 interface. For example, in the base station management system of claim 1, the connection established between the base station management device and the base station is based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Secure Shell (SSH) protocols. A base station management method, using a base station management system, includes: using a first base station of the above base station management system to send a first connection through a communication interface based on a preset port number and a base station management device address. The request is sent to a base station management device of the above-mentioned base station management system; after the above-mentioned base station management device receives the above-mentioned first connection request, through the above-mentioned base station management The device establishes a connection between the base station management device and the first base station according to the first connection request; and uses the base station management device to change the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number to an unknown port number. Use a first port number to release the default port number; and use the first base station to re-establish a connection with the base station management device according to the first port number. The base station management method of claim 9 further includes: after the base station management device changes the port number corresponding to the first base station from the default port number to the first port number, through the base station management device Interrupt the connection between the above-mentioned base station management device and the above-mentioned first base station. The base station management method of claim 10 further includes: after the base station management device interrupts the connection with the first base station, the first base station uses the first connection port number and the address of the base station management device via The communication interface sends the first connection request to the base station management device; and after the base station management device receives the first connection request, the base station management device re-establishes the base station management according to the first connection request. The connection between the device and the above-mentioned first base station. The base station management method of claim 9 further includes: using one of the second base stations of the base station management system to send a second connection through the communication interface according to the default port number and the address of the base station management device. Request to the above base station management device; After the base station management device receives the second connection request, the base station management device establishes a connection between the base station management device and the second base station according to the second connection request; and the base station management device establishes a connection between the base station management device and the second base station. The port number corresponding to the second base station is changed from the default port number to an unused second port number to release the default port number; through the second base station, according to the second The connection port number re-establishes a connection with the above-mentioned base station management device. The base station management method of claim 12, wherein the first port number and the second port number are included in an unused port number range. The base station management method of claim 12 further includes: using the base station management device to add a value to the first port number to generate the second port number. For example, in the base station management method of claim 9, the communication interface is an O1 interface. For example, in the base station management method of claim 9, the connection established between the base station management device and the base station is based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Secure Shell (Secure Shell, SSH) protocols.

Images