Rimedo Labs is a TECHCOnnect Innovation Showcase nominee. Learn more here.
Introduction
Vehicular communication, presents a complex set of challenges within the realm of 5G and future networks, primarily due to its ever-changing temporal and spatial dynamics. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) places specific and demanding requirements on mobile networks, as it encompasses a diverse range of services with varying needs. On the other hand, O-RAN aims to incorporate intelligence into the RAN, facilitating network and resource optimization through customized applications. This is made possible by the introduction of the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), alongside xApps and rApps.
Use Case
We combine these two domains and show how the utilization of both Traffic Management rApp (TM-rApp) and Traffic Steering xApp (TS-xApp) could help in V2X use cases in O-RAN. We also emphasize the use of enrichment information (EI), made available through O-RAN, that suits specifically vehicular services, such as car platoon geolocation or emergency notifications. In particular, we envisage the case, where there are numerous pedestrian and vehicle users, and in case of e.g. a car crash, the traffic distributions can change significantly with the arrival of a resource-hungry user such as an ambulance. In this situation, the flexibility offered by the O-RAN architecture allows for optimized resource management through policy control in companion with EI when dynamic changes occur on the road.
We Have Defined Two Specific Use Cases:
- autonomous platooning: here, the TM-rApp and TS-xApp role is to guarantee handover minimization in the case of high-mobility users, as well as minimize outage for low-latency traffic users; when the platoon is approaching, we utilize the EI about the platoon route;
- car accidents: in case of a car accident, the traffic profile in the analyzed region changes; moreover, the public safety services and first responders should take precedence in accessing spectrum resources.
xApp-rApp Operation
We can envision a pair of apps realizing a two-stage approach to address the TS challenge, namely TM-rApp and TS-xApp which can jointly be used to optimize resource utilization, minimize handover signaling, and assure QoS requirements for V2X use cases. The TS-xApp is deployed alongside a Near-RT RIC, which handles the association of UEs with base stations. Simultaneously, the steering process is executed based on a policy chosen within the TM-rApp, operating within the Non-RT RIC that takes into account elements specific to V2X scenarios, based on service demands, current traffic situation, and radio conditions. The enrichment information (EI) is additionally fed in covering the use of case-specific data (like geolocation information). In the considered scenario, the EI contains data about the planned route of the ambulance or the platoon of autonomous cars, allowing the O-RAN-based network to prepare the just policy in advance and deploy it at the right moment minimizing the risk of handover and SLA violation. The architecture of the solution is shown in the Fig below.
Fig. 2 O-RAN Architecture with TM-rApp and TS-xApp
In this setup, a single TS-xApp managing the user-to-cell association can efficiently handle various situations when being properly controlled by policies delivered from the TM-rApp which overlooks its operation. We improve the overall performance by utilizing the EI taking into account application-specific information, like (in the case of V2X use cases) geolocation, service type, emergency services, or car-platoon tracking. With the TM-rApp we can avoid network congestion, and ensure demanding QoS for dynamically changing situations.
One can find the demo video here: O-RAN Hierarchical Traffic Management (TM-rApp and TS-xApp) in Advanced Vehicular Scenarios (Demo) – YouTube
Benefits of Using VMware’s Solutions
Within our application, we showcase the benefits of the usage of VMware distributed RIC (dRIC) for efficient traffic management and traffic steering managed by a hosted xApp, with policy controls provided by an rApp hosted on a Non-RealTime RIC. The two applications operate asynchronously, yet simultaneously. Moreover, we illustrate the gains achieved from the usage of Enrichment Information and emphasize the opportunities offered for the Y1 consumers.
The Nomination in the TECHCOnnect Innovation Showcase
Rimedo Labs’ “Traffic Management for V2X use cases in O-RAN” was nominated in the RAN optimization category. This category covers use cases enabled by the Open RAN platform/solutions to drive significant improvements in the RAN. Examples include use cases that enable performance improvements, capacity improvements, service quality improvements, and network and/or service rollout improvements.
About Rimedo Labs
Rimedo Labs specializes in providing high-quality consulting, implementation, and R&D services in the field of modern wireless systems, currently focusing on Open RAN, 5G, and beyond.
We implement this through an individual and open approach to the client, constantly improving the team operationally and substantively, updating knowledge, and a unique combination of science and business applications.
You can find more details on our website: Home – RIMEDO Labs
