Open ‘plug and play’ O and M architecture for a radio base station

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing a vendor- and version-independent information model that a cellular telephone base station can use to communicate its capabilities in a plug and play fashion to a network element is disclosed. The information model can also be used to communicate configuration information back to the base station from the network element. The capabilities and configuration information is automatically communicated and utilized, thus reducing the possibility of human operator error in configuring and pre-configuring new or modified base station equipment.

1. A method bringing a base station having modified base station capabilities into existing cellular radio traffic being coordinated by a network manager, comprising the steps of:
 pre-loading into the base station capability information corresponding to operational capabilities of the base station;  
 formatting the pre-loaded capability information into a standardized, predefined abstract resource information model known to the network manager;  
 communicating to the network manager the capability information formatted into the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model;  
 retrieving, at the network manager, the capability information from the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model;  
 developing, at the network manager, configuration information identifying operational parameters for use by the base station, said configuration information developed based on the existing cellular radio traffic being coordinated by the network manager and on the capability information;  
 formatting the pre-loaded configuration information into the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model;  
 communicating to the base station the configuration information formatted into the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model;  
 extracting the configuration information from the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model at the base station; and  
 configuring the base station based on the configuration information.  
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the modified base station capabilities comprise a completely new base station being brought into the cellular radio traffic. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the formatting steps include formatting into the standardized, predefined abstract resource information model independent of a vendor and a version of the base station. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the base station automatically creates the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the abstract resource information model is created using combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       7. A base station, comprising:
 a base station resource infrastructure management layer for administration of the base station software and hardware infrastructure;  
 a base station abstract resource management layer having its own element management operating system based on an abstract information model identifying operational capabilities of the base station software and hardware infrastructure, wherein said information model is independent of any format of said base station software and hardware infrastructure; and  
 a site capabilities application for creating the abstract information model based on the base station software and hardware infrastructure.  
 
     
     
       8. A base station according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an infrastructure element manager for administering the infrastructure management layer.  
 
     
     
       9. A base station according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a communication link with a physically remote mobile network for communicating said operational capabilities to said remote mobile network and for receiving from said remote mobile network configuration information based on the operational capabilities.  
 
     
     
       10. A base station according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the operational capabilities and the configuration information are both formatted according to the abstract information model.  
 
     
     
       11. A base station according to  claim 7 , wherein the abstract information model defines abstract information objects for the software and hardware infrastructure and combination relationships between the various abstract information objects. 
     
     
       12. A base station according to  claim 7 , wherein the abstract information model represents the operational capabilities by attributes in abstract information model objects. 
     
     
       13. A base station according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the abstract information model defines abstract information objects for the software and hardware infrastructure and combination relationships between the various abstract information objects; and  
 the abstract information model represents the operational capabilities by attributes in abstract information model objects.  
 
     
     
       14. A base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the attribute information includes frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information. 
     
     
       15. A base station according to  claim 13 , wherein the combination relationships includes relationships between radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units within the software and hardware infrastructure. 
     
     
       16. A method of bringing a new base station capability into an existing communication network, comprising the steps of:
 communicating capabilities of the base station from the base station to the network using a format of a common abstract resource information model;  
 preparing and communicating operational configuration information for the base station based on the capabilities of the base station and based on a need of the network, said configuration information also being in the format of the common abstract resource information model; and  
 receiving the configuration information at the base station in the format of the common abstract resource information model, and configuring the base station based on the configuration information.  
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of communicating the capabilities of the base station includes the step of communicating the capabilities of a completely new base station being brought into an existing radio traffic of the communication network. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the base station automatically creates the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the abstract resource information model is created using combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       21. A method of bringing a base station having modified base station capabilities into existing cellular radio traffic being coordinated by a network manager comprising the steps of:
 automatically sending to the network manager capabilities information corresponding to operational capabilities of the modified base station, said capabilities information being in a format of a common abstract resource information model, and  
 automatically receiving configuration information from the network manager identifying operational parameters for use by the modified base station in administering the cellular radio traffic, said configuration information also being in the format of the common abstract resource information model.  
 
     
     
       22. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of communicating the capabilities of the base station includes the step of communicating the capabilities of a completely new base station being brought into an existing radio traffic of the communication network. 
     
     
       23. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the base station automatically creates the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the abstract resource information model is created using combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       25. A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       26. A method of configuring or re- configuring a base station in a communication network, comprising:      communicating capabilities of a base station from the base station to the communication network using a format of an abstract resource information model.     
     
     
       27. The method in  claim 26 , further comprising:
   receiving configuration information from the network controller identifying operational parameters for use by the base station in handling cellular radio traffic.     
     
     
       28. The method in  claim 26 , further comprising:
   providing operational configuration information to the base station;        receiving the operational configuration information at the base station; and        configuring the base station based on the operational configuration information.     
     
     
       29. The method in  claim 28 , wherein the operational configuration information is received at the base station in the format of the abstract resource information model. 
     
     
       30. The method in  claim 28 , wherein the configuration information is received at the base station using a commonly understood format. 
     
     
       31. A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the base station is a new base station being installed into the communication network. 
     
     
       32. The method in  claim 31 , wherein the base station is an existing base station to be reconfigured. 
     
     
       33. A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the base station automatically implements the abstract resource information model using hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       34. A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the base station implements the abstract resource information model using combinational relationships between various logical hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for the various logical hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       35. A method according to  claim 34 , wherein the logical hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include one or more of frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information, and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between one or more of radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       36. A method relating to configuring or re- configuring a base station in a cellular radio network, comprising:      sending to a network controller capabilities information corresponding to operational capabilities of the base station, the capabilities information being in a format of an abstract resource information model, and        receiving configuration information from the network controller identifying operational parameters for use by the base station in handling cellular radio traffic.     
     
     
       37. A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the base station is a new base station being installed into the cellular radio network. 
     
     
       38. The method in  claim 36 , wherein the base station is an existing base station to be reconfigured. 
     
     
       39. A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the base station automatically implements the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       40. A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the abstract resource information model is implemented using combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       41. A method according to  claim 40 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include one or more of frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information, and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between one or more of radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       42. A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the configuration information is in the format of the abstract resource information model. 
     
     
       43. A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the configuration information is in a commonly understood format. 
     
     
       44. A system for use in a mobile communications network, comprising:
   a control node associated with the mobile communications network, and        a base station configured to communicate its capabilities to the control node using a format of an abstract resource information model.     
     
     
       45. The system in  claim 44 , wherein the control node is configured to receive the base station capabilities and communicate operational configuration information to the base station so that base station is configured using the operational configuration information. 
     
     
       46. The system in  claim 44 , wherein the operational configuration information is in the format of the abstract resource information model. 
     
     
       47. The system in  claim 44 , wherein the operational configuration information is in a commonly understood format. 
     
     
       48. The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the base station is a new base station to be installed into the communication network. 
     
     
       49. The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the base station is an existing base station to be reconfigured. 
     
     
       50. The system in  claim 44 , wherein the base station is configured to automatically implement the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station. 
     
     
       51. The system in  claim 50 , wherein the base station is configured to implement the abstract resource information model using combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       52. The system in  claim 50 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include one or more of frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information, and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between one or more of radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units. 
     
     
       53. A base station configured for addition into an existing cellular radio system coordinated by a control node in the cellular radio system, comprising:
   radio transmitting and receiving circuitry, and        a controller, coupled to the radio transmitting and receiving circuitry, configured to send to the control node capabilities information corresponding to operational capabilities of the base station, the capabilities information being in a format of an abstract resource information model, and to use configuration information received from the control node in transmitting and receiving cellular radio traffic.     
     
     
       54. The base station in  claim 53 , wherein the controller includes:
   means for automatically implementing the abstract resource information model based on hardware and software infrastructures of the base station.     
     
     
       55. The base station in  claim 54 , wherein the means for automatically implementing uses combinational relationships between various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station and attribute information for various hardware and software infrastructure objects of the base station. 
     
     
       56. The base station in  claim 55 , wherein the hardware and software infrastructure objects in the abstract resource information model include one or more of frequency spectrum information, maximum power information, and channel type information pertaining to the radio transmitting and receiving circuitry, and wherein the combinational relationships between the objects describe relationships between one or more of radio connection units, carrier units and antenna units included in the radio transmitting and receiving circuitry. 
     
     
       57. The base station in  claim 53 , wherein the configuration information is received in the format of the abstract resource information model. 
     
     
       58. The base station in  claim 53 , wherein the configuration information is received in a commonly- understood format.   
     
     
       59. A method of bringing a new base station capability into an existing communications network, comprising:
   representing and communicating capabilities of the base station from the base station to the network using a vendor - independent format that can represent any base station irrespective of its vendor;        preparing and communicating operational configuration information for the base station based on the capabilities of the base station, said configuration information is communicated in the vendor - independent format; and        receiving the configuration information at the base station in the vendor - independent format, and configuring the base station based on the configuration information.     
     
     
       60. The method in  claim 59 , wherein the vendor- independent format is also version - independent.   
     
     
       61. The method in  claim 60 , wherein the vendor- independent and version - independent format corresponds to an information model that can represent any base station irrespective of its vendor or version.   
     
     
       62. The method in  claim 59 , wherein the new base station capability is associated with a new base station being brought into the communication network. 
     
     
       63. The method in  claim 59 , wherein the new base station capability is associated with reconfiguring an existing base station in the communication network.