Reallocation of processing load between baseband units

1 . A method performed by a control node for handling data traffic between a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) and at least a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network, wherein the TRP is controlled by a network node and allocated to a first baseband unit (BBU) for processing data traffic, the method comprising:

the control node deciding to reduce a load on the first BBU; and

in response to the control node deciding to reduce the load of the first BBU, the control node performing a TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to a second BBU, wherein

the first BBU processes data traffic in a first cell,

the second BBU processes data traffic in a second cell, and

the TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to a second BBU comprises:

sending a first order to the network node to prepare a second sector carrier to represent the TRP in the second cell;

sending a second order to the network node to stop processing data traffic of a first sector carrier in the first cell;

sending an instruction to the network node to configure the first UE on the first sector carrier to handover the data traffic from the first cell to the second cell; and

sending a third order to the network node to activate the second sector carrier, start processing the data traffic in the second BBU, and deactivate the first sector carrier.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

prior to deciding to reduce the load of the first BBU, the TRP is represented by the first sector carrier allocated to the first cell.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deciding to reduce the load on the first BBU is based on:

a processor load, a memory load, a coordination performance, and/or an energy efficiency.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein TRP reallocation process is performed as a run-time switch.

5 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of the control node, causes the control node to perform the method of claim 1 .

6 . A method performed by a network node for handling data traffic between a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) and at least a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network, wherein the TRP is controlled by the network node and allocated to a first baseband unit (BBU) for processing data traffic, the method comprising:

receiving a first message transmitted by a control node that has decided to reduce the load of the first BBU and increase the load of a second BBU; and

in response receiving the first message performing a TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to the second BBU, wherein

the first BBU processes data traffic in a first cell,

the second BBU processes data traffic in a second cell, and

the TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to the second BBU comprises:

preparing a second sector carrier to represent the TRP in the second cell;

stopping processing data traffic of a first sector carrier in the first cell;

configuring the first UE on the first sector carrier to handover the data traffic from the first cell to the second cell; and

activating the second sector carrier, start processing the data traffic in the second BBU, and deactivate the first sector carrier.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein

at the time the first order message is received, the TRP is represented by the first sector carrier allocated to the first cell.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the TRP reallocation process is performed as a run-time switch.

9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of a network node causes the network node to perform the method of claim 6 .

10 . A control node configured to handle data traffic between a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) and at least a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network, wherein the TRP is controlled by a network node and allocated to a first baseband unit (BBU) for processing data traffic, the control node comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuitry, and the control node is configured to perform a method comprising:

deciding to reduce a load on the first BBU; and

in response to deciding to reduce the load of the first BBU, performing a TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to a second BBU, wherein

the first BBU processes data traffic in a first cell,

the second BBU processes data traffic in a second cell, and

the TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to a second BBU comprises:

sending a first order to the network node to prepare a second sector carrier to represent the TRP in the second cell;

sending a second order to the network node to stop processing data traffic of a first sector carrier in the first cell;

sending an instruction to the network node to configure the first UE on the first sector carrier to handover the data traffic from the first cell to the second cell; and

sending a third order to the network node to activate the second sector carrier, start processing the data traffic in the second BBU, and deactivate the first sector carrier.

11 . The control node of claim 10 , wherein the deciding to reduce the load on the first BBU is based on:

a processor load, a memory load, a coordination performance, and/or an energy efficiency.

12 . The control node of claim 10 , wherein the TRP reallocation process is performed as a run-time switch.

13 . A network node configured to handle data traffic between a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) and at least a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network, wherein the TRP is controlled by the network node and allocated to a first baseband unit (BBU) for processing data traffic, the network node comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processing circuitry, and the network node is configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving a first message transmitted by a control node that has decided to reduce the load of the first BBU and increase the load of a second BBU; and

in response receiving the first message performing a TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to the second BBU, wherein

the first BBU processes data traffic in a first cell,

the second BBU processes data traffic in a second cell, and

the TRP reallocation process for reallocating the TRP from the first BBU to the second BBU comprises:

preparing a second sector carrier to represent the TRP in the second cell;

stopping processing data traffic of a first sector carrier in the first cell;

configuring the first UE on the first sector carrier to handover the data traffic from the first cell to the second cell; and

activating the second sector carrier, start processing the data traffic in the second BBU, and deactivate the first sector carrier.

14 . The network node of claim 13 , wherein

at the time the first order message is received, the TRP is represented by the first sector carrier allocated to the first cell.

15 . The network node of claim 13 , wherein the TRP reallocation process is performed as a run-time switch.