Systems and methods for inter radio intelligent controller communication

1 . A system for inter radio intelligent controller communication in an open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), the system comprising:

a network device equipped with a Non-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC) and communicatively coupled to a Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC),

wherein the network device is further operatively coupled to a plurality of cells in a heterogenous network, the plurality of cells further communicatively coupled to the open radio access network unit (O-RAN), wherein said network device further comprises a processor and a memory, the memory comprises processor-executable instructions corresponding to one or more xAPPs associated with the Near-RT RIC, which on execution, cause the network device to:

receive, a first set of instructions to split the Near-RT RIC into a plurality of Near-RT RIC modules;

create a logical interface among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules;

establish a communication pathway among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules through the logical interface, wherein the communication pathway enable a near real-time control and optimization of a plurality of E2 Nodes across the entire heterogenous network;

detect, by a first Near RT RIC module, a new neighbour cell in an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) module associated with a current RIC which is not supported or registered in the current RIC;

determine, by the first Near RT RIC module, location of the new neighbour cell; and

send, by the first Near RT RIC module, the location of the new neighbour cell to a management entity associated with the network device via an O1 interface.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

send an RIC information request message to the management entity at the network device via the O1 interface, wherein the RIC information request message comprises of a cell Identity (ID) of the new neighbour cell; search a cell-RIC map for the cell ID and locate one or more RIC details associated with the new neighbour cell; and

respond, by the network device, with the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address by sending RIC Information Response message to the first Near-RT RIC module.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

initiate, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a setup procedure to establish an iNear-RT RIC interface link with a second Near-RT RIC module that is associated with the new neighbour cell's RIC, at the reception of the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address;

send, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC setup request message (INear-RT RIC) to the second Near-RT RIC module with a list of supported cells associated with the new neighbour cell;

acknowledge, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC setup request message (iNear-RT RIC);

update, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with a received list of cells from the network device;

respond back, by the first Near-RT RIC module by sending a Near-RT RIC setup response message with the list of supported cells; and

update, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with the received list of cells to successfully establish between the link between the first Near-RT RIC module and the second Near-RT RIC module.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

send a Near-RT RIC cell information request message to the second Near-RT RIC module, by providing cell ID or a list of cell IDs, to request load information, measurement information, data analytics information.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

register, by the second the Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC cell information request; and

respond back, by the second the Near-RT RIC module, with the latest load information, measurement information, data analytics information by sending the Near-RT RIC cell information response message to the first Near-RT RIC module.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

take decisions, by the first Near-RT RIC module, for a Self-Organizing Network (SON), on one or more cells which belong to a different RIC.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

update, by the second Near RT-RIC module, an RIC configuration of a iNear-RT RIC interface link when a cell or a group of cells are added or deleted and/or modified certain parameters of a cell/cells;

send a Near-RT RIC configuration update message to the first Near-RT RIC module;

update, by the first near RT-RIC module, the supported list of cells; and

respond back by the first near RT-RIC module by sending the Near-RT RIC configuration update acknowledge message to the second Near-RT RIC module.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

send, by the second Near RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC command with needed handover (HO) trigger details, and a predefined set of measurements to the first Near-RT RIC module, if the second Near-RT RIC module decides to alter the HO trigger details of a cell which belongs to a different RIC;

upon reception of the Near RT RIC command, acknowledge by the first Near-RT RIC-module, the Near-RT RIC command; and

respond back, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC command acknowledge message to the second Near-RT RIC module.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

split data and control flow mechanism between the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules; and

steer traffic to appropriate cells for an entire predicted time duration, wherein the steering of traffic comprises traffic switching and traffic splitting based on the split data and control flow mechanism.

10 . A system for inter radio intelligent controller communication in an open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), the system comprising:

a network device communicatively coupled to a Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC);

wherein the network device is further operatively coupled to a plurality of cells in a heterogenous network, the plurality of cells further communicatively coupled to the open radio access network unit (O-RAN), wherein said network device further comprises a processor and a memory, the memory comprises processor-executable instructions corresponding to one or more xAPPs associated with the Near-RT RIC, which on execution, cause the network device to:

receive, a first set of instructions to split the Near-RT RIC into a plurality of Near-RT RIC modules;

create a logical interface among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules; and establish a communication pathway among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules through the logical interface, wherein the communication pathway comprises:

initiate, by a first Near-RT RIC module, a setup procedure to establish an iNear-RT RIC interface link with a second Near-RT RIC module that is associated with the new neighbour cell's RIC, at the reception of the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address;

send, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC setup request message (INear-RT RIC) to the second Near-RT RIC module with a list of supported cells associated with the new neighbour cell;

acknowledge, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC setup request message (iNear-RT RIC);

update, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with a received list of cells from the network device;

respond back, by the first Near-RT RIC module by sending a Near-RT RIC setup response message with the list of supported cells; and update, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with the received list of cells to successfully establish between the link between the first Near-RT RIC module and the second Near-RT RIC module.

11 . The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the network device is further configured to send a setup request message, wherein said setup request message comprises at least of an IP address, a destination allocation ID, a source allocation ID, a data set of one or more connected E2 nodes of Near-RT RIC.

12 . A method for inter radio intelligent controller communication in an open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), the method comprising:

receiving, by a network device, a first set of instructions to split a Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) into a plurality of Near-RT RIC modules, wherein the network device is equipped with a Non-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC) and communicatively coupled to the Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC),

wherein the network device is further operatively coupled to a plurality of cells in a heterogenous network, the plurality of cells further communicatively coupled to the open radio access network unit (O-RAN),

wherein said network device further comprises a processor and a memory, the memory comprises processor-executable instructions corresponding to one or more xAPPs associated with the Near-RT RIC;

creating, by the network device, a logical interface among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules;

establishing, by the network device, a communication pathway among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules through the logical interface, wherein the communication pathway enable a near real-time control and optimization of a plurality of E2 Nodes across the entire heterogenous network;

detecting, by a first Near RT RIC module, a new neighbour cell in an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) module associated with a current RIC which is not supported or registered in the current RIC;

determining, by the first Near RT RIC module, location of the new neighbour cell; and

sending, by the first Near RT RIC module, the location of the new neighbour cell to a management entity associated with the network device via an O1 interface.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

sending, by the network device, an RIC information request message to the management entity at the network device via an 01 interface, wherein the RIC information request message comprises of a cell Identity (ID) of the new neighbour cell;

searching, by the network device, a cell-RIC map for a cell identity (ID) of the new neighbour cell and locate one or more RIC details associated with the new neighbour cell; and

responding, by the network device, with the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address by sending RIC Information Response message to the first Near-RT RIC module.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

initiating, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a setup procedure to establish an iNear-RT RIC interface link with a second Near-RT RIC module that is associated with the new neighbour cell's RIC, at the reception of the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address;

sending, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC setup request message (INear-RT RIC) to the second Near-RT RIC module with a list of supported cells associated with the new neighbour cell;

acknowledging, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC setup request message (iNear-RT RIC);

updating, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with a received list of cells from the network device; and

responding back, by the first Near-RT RIC module by sending a Near-RT RIC setup response message with the list of supported cells; and updating, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with the received list of cells to successfully establish between the link between the first Near-RT RIC module and the second Near-RT RIC module.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

sending, by the network device, a Near-RT RIC cell information request message to the second Near-RT RIC module, by providing cell ID or a list of cell IDs, to request load information, measurement information, data analytics information.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the network device is further configured to:

registering, by the second the Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC cell information request; and

responding back, by the second the Near-RT RIC module, with the latest load information, measurement information, data analytics information by sending the Near-RT RIC cell information response message to the first Near-RT RIC module.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

taking decisions, by the first Near-RT RIC module, for a Self-Organizing Network (SON), on one or more cells which belong to a different RIC.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

updating, by the second Near RT-RIC module, an RIC configuration of a I Nea r-RT RIC interface link when a cell or a group of cells are added or deleted and/or modified certain parameters of a cell/cells;

sending, by the second Near RT-RIC module, a Near-RT RIC configuration update message to the first Near-RT RIC module; and

updating, by the first near RT-RIC module, the supported list of cells; and responding back, by the first near RT-RIC module by sending the Near-RT RIC configuration update acknowledge message to the second Near-RT RIC module.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

sending, by the second Near RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC command with needed handover (HO) trigger details, and a predefined set of measurements to the first Near-RT RIC module, if the second Near-RT RIC module decides to alter the HO trigger details of a cell which belongs to a different RIC;

upon reception of the Near RT RIC command, acknowledging by the first Near-RT RIC-module, the Near-RT RIC command; and

responding back, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC command acknowledge message to the second Near-RT RIC module.

20 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

splitting, by the network device, data and control flow mechanism between the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules; steering, by the network device, traffic to appropriate cells for an entire predicted time duration, wherein the steering of traffic comprises traffic switching and traffic splitting based on the split data and control flow mechanism.

21 . A method for inter radio intelligent controller communication in an open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), the method comprising:

receiving, by a network device, a first set of instructions to split a Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) into a plurality of Near-RT RIC modules, wherein the network device is communicatively coupled to a Near-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC),

wherein the network device is further operatively coupled to a plurality of cells in a heterogenous network, the plurality of cells further communicatively coupled to the open radio access network unit (O-RAN),

wherein said network device further comprises a processor and a memory, the memory comprises processor-executable instructions corresponding to one or more xAPPs associated with the Near-RT RIC;

creating a logical interface among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules; and, establishing a communication pathway among the plurality of Near-RT RIC modules through the logical interface, wherein the communication pathway comprises steps as:

initiating, by a first Near-RT RIC module, a setup procedure to establish an iNear-RT RIC interface link with a second Near-RT RIC module that is associated with the new neighbour cell's RIC, at the reception of the new neighbour cell's RIC transport layer address;

sending, by the first Near-RT RIC module, a Near-RT RIC setup request message (INear-RT RIC) to the second Near-RT RIC module with a list of supported cells associated with the new neighbour cell;

acknowledging, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the Near-RT RIC setup request message (iNear-RT RIC);

updating, by the second Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with a received list of cells from the network device; and

responding back, by the first Near-RT RIC module by sending a Near-RT RIC setup response message with the list of supported cells; and updating, by the first Near-RT RIC module, the list of supported cells with the received list of cells to successfully establish between the link between the first Near-RT RIC module and the second Near-RT RIC module.

22 . The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises of sending a setup request message, wherein said setup request message comprises at least of an IP address, a destination allocation ID, a source allocation ID, a data set of one or more connected E2 nodes of Near-RT RIC.