Patent · US12068916B2 · B2 · US

Network node and method for handling operations in a communications network

(11) Publication number

US12068916B2

(21) Application number

17/919,519

(22) Filing date

2020-08-12

(30) Priority date

2020-04-17

(43) Publication date

2024-08-20

(45) Date of grant

2024-08-20

(51) IPC

G06F 15/16; H04L 41/0823; H04L 41/5003

(52) CPC

H04L Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication: 41/0823, 41/5003
B25J Manipulators; chambers provided with manipulation devices: 9/1664, 9/1682
G05B Control or regulating systems in general; functional elements of such systems; monitoring or testing arrangements for such systems or elements: 19/41895, 2219/39146
G06N Computing arrangements based on specific computational models: 20/00, 3/006, 3/045, 3/0464, 5/01, 5/02
G06Q Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not otherwise provided for: 10/0631
Y02P Climate change mitigation technologies in the production or processing of goods: 90/02, 90/60

(73) Assignee

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB

(72) Inventors

Ajay KATTEPUR; Nanjangud Chandrasekhara Swamy NARENDRA; Ramamurthy Badrinath

(54) Title

Network node and method for handling operations in a communications network

(57) Abstract

A method performed by a network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks. The network node obtains initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, environment and the communications network; and generates a plan by taking one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices into account as well as the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to operation of the plurality of computing devices. The network node further computes a number of back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are taking one or more events into account wherein the one or more events relate to operation of the plurality of computing devices; and executes one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur, using a computed back-up plan.

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Claims (16)

A method performed by a first network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks, the method comprising: obtaining initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, an environment, and the communications network; generating a plan based on one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices and the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; determining a number of one or more back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are determined based on one or more events, and further wherein the one or more events relate to the one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; and executing the one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur while executing said one or more operations, using the generated one or more back-up plans related to the occurred one or more events, wherein the plurality of computing devices includes a first computing device and a second computing device, the generated plan comprises triggering offloading of one or more tasks of the first computing device to a computation node via a second network node, the generated one or more back-up plans comprise triggering the offloading of said one or more tasks of the first computing device to the computation node via the second computing device, the triggering of the offloading via the second network node comprises transmitting, to the second network node, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, the one or more events which occurred while executing the one or more operations comprise failing to receive, from the second network node, a response message responding to the request for offloading, the triggering of the offloading via the second computing device comprises transmitting, to the second computing device, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, and the second computing device is configured to move closer to the second network node based at least on receiving the request for offloading.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated plan comprises communication paths, movement paths, the one or more operation goals, computational offloading, and/or task offloading between the plurality of computing devices.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more events relate to changing environment, performance of the computing devices, and/or the communications network.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial parameters comprise a device specific parameter, a communication topology, map information of the environment and/or a location specific parameter, and the device specific parameter comprises one or more of: computational capability, memory capability, and/or battery capability of the computing devices.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial parameters are recorded by the plurality of computing devices or the first network node or pre-configured.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operation goals comprise at least a goal relating to time, battery usage, computational capacity, and/or communication performance.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprise a computing device failure, a communication loss, alteration in environment, a battery degradation, a deviation in quality of service, QoS, limits and/or a failure to reach a goal with a current plan.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the plan and/or the number of back-up plans are generated or computed using a machine learning model.
A first network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks, the first network node comprising: a communication interface configured to communicate via the communications network; and processing circuitry, wherein the first network node is configured to: obtain initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, an environment, and the communications network; generate a plan based on one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices and the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; determine a number of one or more back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are determined based on one or more events, and further wherein the one or more events relate to the one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; and execute the one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur while executing said one or more operations, using the generated one or more back-up plans related to the occurred one or more events, wherein the plurality of computing devices includes a first computing device and a second computing device, the generated plan comprises triggering offloading of one or more tasks of the first computing device to a computation node via a second network node, the generated one or more back-up plans comprise triggering the offloading of said one or more tasks of the first computing device to the computation node via the second computing device, the triggering of the offloading via the second network node comprises transmitting, to the second network node, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, the one or more events which occurred while executing the one or more operations comprise failing to receive, from the second network node, a response message responding to the request for offloading, the triggering of the offloading via the second computing device comprises transmitting, to the second computing device, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, and the second computing device is configured to move closer to the second network node based at least on receiving the request for offloading.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the generated plan comprises communication paths, movement paths, the one or more operation goals, computational offloading, and/or task offloading between the plurality of computing devices.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more events relate to changing environment, performance of the computing devices, and/or the communications network.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the initial parameters comprise a device specific parameter, a communication topology, map information of the environment and/or a location specific parameter, and the device specific parameter comprises one or more of the following: computational capability, memory capability, and/or battery capability of the computing devices.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the number of back-up plans is computed using changed initial parameters.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more operation goals comprise at least a goal relating to time, battery usage, computational capacity, and/or communication performance; and wherein the one or more events comprise a computing device failure, a communication loss, alteration in environment, and/or a battery degradation.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more events comprise a deviation in quality of service, QoS, limits or a failure to reach a goal with a current plan.
The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the plan and/or the number of back-up plans are generated or computed using a machine learning model.

Description

Embodiments herein relate to a network node and a method performed therein. Furthermore, a computer program product and a computer readable storage medium are also provided herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to handling operations in a communications network.

In a typical communications network, computing devices, also known as process devices, wireless communication devices, robot devices, operational devices, mobile stations, vehicles, stations (STA) and/or wireless devices, communicate with one or another or with a server or similar via a Radio access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cell areas, with each service area or cell area being served by a radio network node such as an access node e.g. a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some radio access technologies (RAT) may also be called, for example, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) and a gNodeB (gNB). The service area or cell area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node operates on radio frequencies to communicate over an air interface with the wireless devices within range of the access node. The radio network node communicates over a downlink (DL) to the wireless device and the wireless device communicates over an uplink (UL) to the access node. The radio network node may comprise one or more antennas providing radio coverage over one or more cells.

Citations (35)

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Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US12068916B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Network node and method for handling operations in a communications network",
  "abstract": "A method performed by a network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks. The network node obtains initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, environment and the communications network; and generates a plan by taking one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices into account as well as the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to operation of the plurality of computing devices. The network node further computes a number of back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are taking one or more events into account wherein the one or more events relate to operation of the plurality of computing devices; and executes one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur, using a computed back-up plan.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method performed by a first network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks, the method comprising: obtaining initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, an environment, and the communications network; generating a plan based on one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices and the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; determining a number of one or more back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are determined based on one or more events, and further wherein the one or more events relate to the one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; and executing the one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur while executing said one or more operations, using the generated one or more back-up plans related to the occurred one or more events, wherein the plurality of computing devices includes a first computing device and a second computing device, the generated plan comprises triggering offloading of one or more tasks of the first computing device to a computation node via a second network node, the generated one or more back-up plans comprise triggering the offloading of said one or more tasks of the first computing device to the computation node via the second computing device, the triggering of the offloading via the second network node comprises transmitting, to the second network node, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, the one or more events which occurred while executing the one or more operations comprise failing to receive, from the second network node, a response message responding to the request for offloading, the triggering of the offloading via the second computing device comprises transmitting, to the second computing device, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, and the second computing device is configured to move closer to the second network node based at least on receiving the request for offloading.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated plan comprises communication paths, movement paths, the one or more operation goals, computational offloading, and/or task offloading between the plurality of computing devices.",
    "3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more events relate to changing environment, performance of the computing devices, and/or the communications network.",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial parameters comprise a device specific parameter, a communication topology, map information of the environment and/or a location specific parameter, and the device specific parameter comprises one or more of: computational capability, memory capability, and/or battery capability of the computing devices.",
    "5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial parameters are recorded by the plurality of computing devices or the first network node or pre-configured.",
    "6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operation goals comprise at least a goal relating to time, battery usage, computational capacity, and/or communication performance.",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprise a computing device failure, a communication loss, alteration in environment, a battery degradation, a deviation in quality of service, QoS, limits and/or a failure to reach a goal with a current plan.",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plan and/or the number of back-up plans are generated or computed using a machine learning model.",
    "9. A first network node for handling one or more operations in a communications network comprising a plurality of computing devices performing one or more tasks, the first network node comprising: a communication interface configured to communicate via the communications network; and processing circuitry, wherein the first network node is configured to: obtain initial parameters relating to the plurality of computing devices, an environment, and the communications network; generate a plan based on one or more operation goals involving the plurality of computing devices and the obtained initial parameters, wherein the generated plan relates to one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; determine a number of one or more back-up plans, wherein the number of back-up plans are determined based on one or more events, and further wherein the one or more events relate to the one or more operations of the plurality of computing devices; and execute the one or more operations using the generated plan, and in case the one or more events occur while executing said one or more operations, using the generated one or more back-up plans related to the occurred one or more events, wherein the plurality of computing devices includes a first computing device and a second computing device, the generated plan comprises triggering offloading of one or more tasks of the first computing device to a computation node via a second network node, the generated one or more back-up plans comprise triggering the offloading of said one or more tasks of the first computing device to the computation node via the second computing device, the triggering of the offloading via the second network node comprises transmitting, to the second network node, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, the one or more events which occurred while executing the one or more operations comprise failing to receive, from the second network node, a response message responding to the request for offloading, the triggering of the offloading via the second computing device comprises transmitting, to the second computing device, a request for offloading said one or more tasks of the first computing device, and the second computing device is configured to move closer to the second network node based at least on receiving the request for offloading.",
    "10. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the generated plan comprises communication paths, movement paths, the one or more operation goals, computational offloading, and/or task offloading between the plurality of computing devices.",
    "11. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more events relate to changing environment, performance of the computing devices, and/or the communications network.",
    "12. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the initial parameters comprise a device specific parameter, a communication topology, map information of the environment and/or a location specific parameter, and the device specific parameter comprises one or more of the following: computational capability, memory capability, and/or battery capability of the computing devices.",
    "13. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the number of back-up plans is computed using changed initial parameters.",
    "14. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more operation goals comprise at least a goal relating to time, battery usage, computational capacity, and/or communication performance; and wherein the one or more events comprise a computing device failure, a communication loss, alteration in environment, and/or a battery degradation.",
    "15. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the one or more events comprise a deviation in quality of service, QoS, limits or a failure to reach a goal with a current plan.",
    "16. The first network node according to claim 9, wherein the plan and/or the number of back-up plans are generated or computed using a machine learning model."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments herein relate to a network node and a method performed therein. Furthermore, a computer program product and a computer readable storage medium are also provided herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to handling operations in a communications network.\n\nIn a typical communications network, computing devices, also known as process devices, wireless communication devices, robot devices, operational devices, mobile stations, vehicles, stations (STA) and/or wireless devices, communicate with one or another or with a server or similar via a Radio access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cell areas, with each service area or cell area being served by a radio network node such as an access node e.g. a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some radio access technologies (RAT) may also be called, for example, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) and a gNodeB (gNB). The service area or cell area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node operates on radio frequencies to communicate over an air interface with the wireless devices within range of the access node. The radio network node communicates over a downlink (DL) to the wireless device and the wireless device communicates over an uplink (UL) to the access node. The radio network node may comprise one or more antennas providing radio coverage over one or more cells.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 41/0823",
    "B25J 9/1664",
    "B25J 9/1682",
    "G05B 19/41895",
    "G05B 2219/39146",
    "G06N 20/00",
    "G06N 3/006",
    "G06N 3/045",
    "G06N 3/0464",
    "G06N 5/01",
    "G06N 5/02",
    "G06Q 10/0631",
    "H04L 41/5003",
    "Y02P 90/02",
    "Y02P 90/60"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 15/16",
    "H04L 41/0823",
    "H04L 41/5003"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ajay KATTEPUR",
    "Nanjangud Chandrasekhara Swamy NARENDRA",
    "Ramamurthy Badrinath"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-08-12",
  "publication_date": "2024-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2024-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2020-04-17",
  "application_number": "US-202017919519-A",
  "family_id": "78085338",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "US20050216182A1",
    "US20100211544A1",
    "US20100312388A1",
    "US9446511B2",
    "US20180164785A1",
    "US20140351819A1",
    "US20160183419A1",
    "US20160316508A1",
    "US9815201B2",
    "US20200225673A1",
    "US9671777B1",
    "US20190227532A1",
    "US20180150085A1",
    "US20180183855A1",
    "US20210141675A1",
    "US20180311815A1",
    "US20180316628A1",
    "US20180373247A1",
    "US20190049975A1",
    "US20190091865A1",
    "EP3479972A1",
    "US20190228495A1",
    "US20190324456A1",
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    "US11340079B1",
    "WO2019234702A2",
    "US20200016754A1",
    "US20200033867A1",
    "US20200196191A1",
    "US11154986B2",
    "US20220161426A1",
    "CN110083166A",
    "US20210049037A1",
    "US20210088337A1",
    "US11526823B1"
  ]
}

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