Cisco Technology, Inc.

Sudhir Kayamkulangara

Prashant Anand

Manigandan Boopalan

Dinuraj K

Rayen Mohanty

Stefano Binetti

Manoj Kumar

Luca Della Chiesa

Christian Schmutzer

Raghunandan Annavajjala

Techniques associated with link establishment in a fronthaul network are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a proxy node, a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) bit stream transmitted by a radio equipment controller, wherein the CPRI bit stream is transmitted within a transmit time interval of the radio equipment controller; and fast-sampling, by the proxy node, the CPRI bit stream to determine whether a hyper frame number synchronization with the radio equipment controller at a common matching link bit rate is achievable, wherein the fast-sampling comprises attempting to decode the received CPRI bit stream and achieve the hyper frame number synchronization for each of a plurality of link bit rates configured for a fast-sampling time period during at least one fast-sampling time interval configured for the proxy node.

Link establishment between a radio equipment controller (REC) and radio equipment (RE) in a fronthaul network

Techniques that provide link establishment between a radio equipment controller (REC) and a radio equipment (RE) in a fronthaul network are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes performing, Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) Layer 1 (L1) link auto-negotiation operations to establish a CPRI link between the REC and RE. A proxy slave may achieve a hyper frame number (HFN) synchronization with the REC at a link bit rate for a first CPRI bit stream and communicate the first CPRI bit stream and the link bit rate to a proxy master. The proxy master may communicate a second CPRI bit stream to the proxy slave to transmit to the REC. The L1 link auto-negotiation operations are completed and CPRI link is established between the REC and the RE when the REC achieves a HFN synchronization for the second CPRI bit stream.

Embodiments for adaptive inline modulation tuning for optical interfaces is described. The inline modulation tuning is provided by optical nodes, where the optical nodes exchange optical modulation information and node ability information between optical devices in a node pair. An optimal modulation scheme for the node pair is selected based on modulation abilities of each node and associated transceiver, as well as a link quality and performance observed for the optical link.

Adaptive inline modulation tuning for optical interfaces

In a fronthaul network system, when a CPRI link fault is detected at either of the REC or RE, both the REC and RE perform a Layer 1 synchronization. The fault may be a loss of signal, loss of frame, or a line code violation, which also translates to a loss of signal if seen beyond a threshold. A proxy slave recognizes the fault in a CPRI signal from a first radio device and inserts the fault alarm into a header of a radio over Ethernet frame. The proxy slave continues to communicate the signal for a configured number of hyper-frames. A proxy master receives the signal and communicates the signal and the fault alarm to a receiving radio device for a configured number of hyper-frames. The proxy and radio devices all perform a joint resynchronization.

Link fault handling in fronthaul communication networks

Techniques that provide link auto-negotiation between a radio equipment controller (REC) and a radio equipment (RE) are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes performing, by a proxy master, a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) Layer 1 (L1) link auto-negotiation with a RE to achieve a L1 synchronization between the proxy master and the RE at a link bit rate; communicating the link bit rate from the proxy master to a proxy slave; performing, by the proxy slave, a CPRI L1 link auto-negotiation with a REC to determine whether a L1 synchronization between the proxy slave and the REC is achieved, wherein if the L1 synchronization is achieved, the link bit rate is a common matching link bit rate achieved; and upon the common matching link bit rate being achieved, establishing a CPRI link between the REC and the RE using the common matching link bit rate.

Link auto-negotiation between a radio equipment controller (REC) and radio equipment (RE) in an ethernet-based fronthaul network

In one example, a first Provider Edge (PE) node is configured to communicate with a second PE node through a packet-switched network and with a third PE node through the packet-switched network. The first PE node communicates with a fourth PE node via the second PE node. The fourth PE node is configured to communicate with the second PE node over a working path through a time-division multiplexing transport network. The first PE node exchanges, with the fourth PE node, protection information. Based on exchanging the protection information, the first PE node communicates with the fourth PE node via the third PE node. The fourth PE node is further configured to communicate with the third PE node over a protection path through the time-division multiplexing transport network.

Protection switching based on exchange of protection information

Techniques are described to provide for state machine handling at a proxy node in an Ethernet-based fronthaul network. In one example, a method includes performing, by a proxy node of a fronthaul network, negotiation operations associated with establishing a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) communication link between radio devices of the fronthaul network, wherein the negotiation operations comprise Layer 1 synchronization operations and Radio over Ethernet (RoE) validation operations for one or more link bit rates; and facilitating communications between the radio devices at a matching link bit rate upon completion of the negotiation operations.

State machine handling at a proxy node in an Ethernet-based fronthaul network

Techniques are described to provide for re-timing a packetized radio flow to clean noise induced by packet delay variation of a packet network. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a first node of a fronthaul network, a Radio over Ethernet (RoE) frame transmitted by a second node in which the RoE frame comprises a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) bit stream associated with a first radio device, a sequence number, and a first time stamp. The method may further include generating a second time stamp by the first node upon obtaining the RoE frame; calculating an induced delay value based, at least in part, on the first time stamp and the second time stamp; calculating a re-timing value based on a re-timing interval and the induced delay value; and transmitting the CPRI bit stream to a second radio device based on the re-timing value.

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Bengaluru, India

Sudhir Kayamkulangara