IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,581,334
Granted Patent B2
US 12,581,334 · App. 18/276,369 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

RU apparatus, DU apparatus, communication system, communication method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Inventors: Ukyo Hishi (Tokyo, JP); Atsushi Nakata (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
H04W24/08H04L43/0847H04W88/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,581,334
App. No.
18/276,369
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a remote unit (RU) apparatus that can effectively utilize statistical information of packets generated in a RU apparatus and a distributed unit (DU) apparatus that execute separated functions in a base station. A RU apparatus ( 10 ) according to the present disclosure includes: a reception unit ( 11 ) that receives a packet from a DU apparatus ( 20 ) that executes processing of a higher-level layer than a layer to be executed by the RU apparatus ( 10 ) among communication functions of a base station that are divided into a plurality of layers; and a transmission unit ( 12 ) that transmits an alarm signal to the DU apparatus ( 20 ) or a management apparatus that manages a network when statistical information regarding the received packet satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Claims (30)

1 . A remote unit (RU) apparatus comprising:

at least one memory storing instructions, and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to;

receive a packet from a distributed unit (DU) apparatus configured to execute processing of a higher-level layer than a layer to be executed by a RU apparatus among communication functions of a base station that are divided into a plurality of layers;

transmit an alarm signal to the DU apparatus or a management apparatus configured to manage a network when statistical information regarding the received packet satisfies a predetermined criterion; and

transmit the alarm signal when the number of packets received in a period different from a reception window exceeds a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the reception window is a period in which the packet transmitted from the DU apparatus can be normally received.

2 . The RU apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information indicating that an abnormality occurs in communication with the DU apparatus.

3 . The RU apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information regarding a packet received in a period different from the reception window.

4 . The RU apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information regarding a packet including an error.

5 . The RU apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to transmit the alarm signal when the number of packets including the error or a ratio related to the number of packets including the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

6 . The RU apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive the predetermined criterion from the DU apparatus or the management apparatus.

7 . A distributed unit (DU) DU apparatus comprising:

at least one memory storing instructions, and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to;

receive a packet from a remote unite (RU) an RU apparatus configured to execute processing of a lower-level layer than a layer to be executed by a DU apparatus among communication functions of a base station that are divided into a plurality of layers; and

transmit an alarm signal to a management apparatus configured to manage a network when statistical information regarding the received packet satisfies a predetermined criterion; and

transmit the alarm signal when the number of packets received in a period different from a reception window exceeds a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the reception window is a period in which the packet transmitted from the DU apparatus can be normally received.

8 . The DU apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information indicating that an abnormality occurs in communication with the RU apparatus.

9 . The DU apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information regarding a packet received in a period different from the reception window.

10 . The DU apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein statistical information regarding the packet is information regarding a packet including an error.

11 . The DU apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to transmit the alarm signal when the number of packets including the error or a ratio related to the number of packets including the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

12 . The DU apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive the predetermined criterion from the management apparatus.

13 . The DU apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to transmit the predetermined criterion to the RU apparatus.

14 . A communication method being executed in a remote unit (RU) apparatus, the communication method comprising:

receiving a packet from a distributed unit (DU) apparatus configured to execute processing of a higher-level layer than a layer to be executed by a RU apparatus among communication functions of a base station that are divided into a plurality of layers; and

transmitting, when statistical information regarding the received packet satisfies a predetermined criterion, an alarm signal to the DU apparatus or a management apparatus configured to manage a network; and

transmitting the alarm signal when the number of packets received in a period different from a reception window exceeds a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the reception window is a period in which the packet transmitted from the DU apparatus can be normally received.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2023
From: HISHI, UKYO; NAKATA, ATSUSHI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064525/0932 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240306017A1 · Sep 12, 2024
References Cited (15)
US 20190245740A1 · Kachhla · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190313288A1 · Li et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20220209929A1 · Visser · 2022 [cited by examiner]
JP 2005110096A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013251795A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016152548A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019176289A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP Office Action for JP Application No. 2023-501703 , mailed on Nov. 5, 2024 with English Translation. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/006805, mailed on May 18, 2021. [cited by applicant]
O-RAN.WG4.MP.0-v03.00, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Anil Umesh et al., “Trends in standardization for open and intelligent wireless access networks—Overview of O-RAN front hall specifications,” NTT Docomo Technical Journal, vol. 27, No. 1, Apr. 30, 2019, pp. 43-55. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Communication for JP Application No. 2023-501703 mailed on Mar. 11, 2025 with English Translation. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for EP Application No. 21927774.6, dated on Mar. 18, 2024. [cited by applicant]
O-RAN Fronthaul Working Group 4: “Control, User and Synchronization Plane Specification”, Aug. 2, 2019, pp. 1-218. [cited by applicant]
O-RAN Fronthaul Working Group 4: “Management Plane Specification”, Jul. 3, 2019, pp. 1-149. [cited by applicant]