This document provides an overview of Near-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC). It describes what Near-RT RIC is, its architecture including components like xApps and interfaces. It also gives an example use case of traffic steering where xApps like QoE prediction and traffic steering coordinate to optimize handovers based on UE and cell metrics monitored by other xApps.

1. Near-RT RIC
Training Course
Nick Huang
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2. Catalog
• Overview
• What is RIC?
• Where is Near-RT RIC?
• Why Near-RT RIC?
• Architecture
• Interfaces
• Components
• Currents xApps
• Traffic Steering Use Case
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3. What is RIC ?
• RAN Intelligent Controller
• Non-Real Time RIC
• Near Real Time RIC
• Goal :
• Based on the information from RAN, use ML or Analyze
information to configure or control RAN.
Non-RT RIC Near-RT RIC
Get information from RAN
Create/Choose training model
A1
Policy
Follow the policy
Adjust RAN parameters 3

4. Where is Near-RT RIC ?
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5. Why Near-RT RIC ?
Near-RT RIC
Network Intelligence
Resource Assurance
Resource Control
Policy Enforcement
Handover Management
Radio-Link Management
Advanced SON
Load Balancing
RAN Slicing
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6. • xApps
• Messaging infrastructure
• Conflict mitigation
• xApp subscription management
• Management services
• Security
• Share Data Layer
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The architecture of Near-RT RIC

7. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
xApp
• According to different application
scenarios, perform data monitoring and
parameter adjustment of RAN functions.
Image Descriptor
xApp
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8. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
Messaging infrastructure
• Message interaction in Near-RT RIC
• Low-latency, point-to-point
• RMR(RIC Message Router)
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9. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
Conflict mitigation
• overlapping
• conflicting
Direct Conflicts
• Two/more xApps request different
settings to a control target
Indirect Conflicts
• A xApp : antenna angle
• B xApp : measurement deviation
• They all affect the size of the boundary
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10. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
xApp subscription management
• Merge the identical subscriptions from
different xApps into a single subscription
to the E2 Node
A xApp B xApp
E2 Node E2 Node
A xApp B xApp
xApp subscription management
E2 Node
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11. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
Management services
• LCM(Life-Cycle Management) of xApp
• FCAPS Management of Near-RT RIC
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12. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
Security
• Prevent malicious third-party xApps from
abusing radio network information.
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13. The architecture in Near-RT RIC
SDL(Share Data Layer)
• It’s an API
• Related to database
• Stateless application processes
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14. Interfaces
• A1
• E2
• O1
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15. Interfaces – A1
Non-RT RIC
Near-RT RIC
Policy-based guidance
ML model management
A1
• Between Near-RT RIC & Non-RT RIC
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16. Interfaces – E2
• Between Near-RT RIC & E2 Nodes
• E2 Nodes :
• O-DU
• O-CU CP/UP
• O-eNB
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17. E2 Interface
Interfaces – E2
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18. Interfaces – O1
• O1
• Between Non-RT RIC & other components
• Supports Non-RT RIC to :
• FCAPS management
• Software management
• File management
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19. Interfaces - Comparation
Interfaces Related Layer(from Near-RT RIC) Basic function
A1 Non-RT RIC Policy-based guidance
E2 E2 Nodes Support RAN function
O1 Non-RT RIC Managements
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20. • RIC Platform(RICPLT)
• xApps(RICAPP)
Components
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21. Components
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22. Components – Platform : Interface
Terminations
Report faults and events
Report real-time Performance
Management data
O1 Mediator
Receiving A1 policies issued by Non-RT
RIC(HTTP)
Sending A1 policy feedback to Non-RT
RIC(HTTP)
Communicate the payload to the certain
xApp via RMR messaging.
A1 Mediator
Routing messages from the xApps through
the SCTP connection to the E2 Node
Communicate the payload to the certain
xApp via RMR messaging.
E2 Termination
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23. Components – Platform : Managers
E2M supports and records the states for
each RAN.
Includes : Null, Disconnected, Connected,
Shutting-Down, Shut-Down
E2 Manager
It is responsible for distributing routing
policies among the other platform
components and xApps.
Routing Manager
Manages the subscriptions and message
routing of the subscribed messages
between E2 Termination and xApps.
Subscription Manager
To deploy/undeploy xApps, record xApps
status and support Health check
xApp Manager
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24. Currents xApp(Cherry Release)
• Admission Control(AC) xApp
• HelloWorld demo(HW) xApps
• KPI Monitor(KPIMON) xApp
• QoE Prediction(QP) xApp
• QoE Prediction-Driver(QPD) xApp
• Anomaly Detection(AD) xApp
• Traffic Steering(TS) xApp
• ML-based xApp
• Measurement Campaign(MC) xApp
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Traffic Steering Use Case

25. Traffic Steering Use Case
• Purpose : To maximize the QoE improvement(handover)
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E2 Node Near-RT RIC
E2 setup
E2 Subscription
E2 Indication

26. Message Flow
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QP driver
xApp
QP
xApp
(8) RMR (QOE-PRED-REQ)
TS xApp
(9) RMR (QOE-PREDICTION)
(5) RMR (A1 POLICY Create)
RMR (TS_ANOMALY_UPDATE)
RMR (TS_ANOMALY_ACK)
(6) RMR (TS-UE-LIST)
cell
metrics
UE
metrics
Query
UE Signal Strength
(7) Query
UE and Cell data
KPIMON
Near RT RIC
A1Med
(1) E2 Setup
Req/Resp
(3) E2 Indication
(2) E2 Subscription
E2 SIM
(10) Handover Decision
(4) SDL
Set
E2 Term
AD xApp

27. Thank you
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