The Radio Access Network (RAN) is the segment of cellular networks that provides wireless connectivity to end-users. O-RAN Alliance has been transforming the RAN industry by proposing open RAN specifications and the programmable Non-Real-Time and Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (Non-RT RIC and Near-RT RIC). Both RICs provide platforms for running applications called rApps and xApps, respectively, to optimize the behavior of the RAN. We investigate a disaggregation strategy of the Near-RT RIC so that its components meet stringent latency requirements while presenting a cost-effective solution. We propose the novel RIC Orchestrator (RIC-O) that optimizes the deployment of the Near-RT RIC components across the cloud-edge continuum. Edge computing nodes often present limited resources and are expensive compared to cloud computing. For example, in the O-RAN Signalling Storm Protection, Near-RT RIC is expected to support end-to-end control loop latencies as low as 10ms. Therefore, performance-critical components of Near-RT RIC and certain xApps should run at the edge while other components can run on the cloud. Furthermore, RIC-O employs an efficient strategy to react to sudden changes and re-deploy components dynamically. We evaluate our proposal through analytical modeling and real-world experiments in an extended Kubernetes deployment implementing RIC-O and disaggregated Near-RT RIC.

翻译：无线电接入网络(RAN)是向终端用户提供无线连接的蜂窝网络的一部分。O-RAN联盟一直在通过提出开放的RAN规格和可编程的非实时和近实时实时智能智能主计长(非RT RIC和近实时智能主计长)来改造RAN行业。两个RIC网络都分别为运行名为 RApps 和 xApps 的应用程序提供平台,以优化RAN的行为。我们调查了Near-RT RIC的分解战略,使其组成部分满足严格的延时要求,同时提出具有成本效益的解决办法。我们建议采用新的 RIC Orchstrator( RIC-O), 优化近RT RIC 的不实时和近实时智能智能主计长(RAN-RIC) 。 这两种计算方法都为运行名为 RApps 和 xApps 的应用程序提供了平台, 优化RAPPS 提供了优化的应用程序。例如, 近端至端控制周期的周期性循环晚于10米。因此, 运行近端-ROTRI 战略的运行中业绩临界部分, 运行到实时战略。