With growing mobile-network complexity, management and optimization have become increasingly difficult. Centralized algorithms face high control-data overhead and computational load, while distributed approaches often perform far from optimally. The O-RAN architecture introduces two tiers of RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs), enabling hierarchical network-management schemes. This work proposes Tandem Apps: a pair of tightly coupled optimization mechanisms running on both controllers. We show how to design Tandem Apps through architectural and functional splitting to achieve an agile, low-complexity solution that still preserves a global network view. As an example, we implement Tandem Apps for cell on/off switching and evaluate them in a large heterogeneous network using real network data. Although the Tandem Apps concept is new, it remains fully compliant with the O-RAN standard, as validated using commercial network software.

翻译：随着移动网络复杂性的日益增长，其管理与优化变得愈发困难。集中式算法面临高昂的控制数据开销与计算负载，而分布式方法的性能往往远非最优。O-RAN架构引入两级无线接入网络智能控制器（RIC），使分层网络管理方案得以实现。本研究提出"串联应用"（Tandem Apps）概念：一组在两级控制器上紧密耦合运行的优化机制。我们展示了如何通过架构与功能拆分设计串联应用，从而在保持全局网络视图的同时，获得一种敏捷、低复杂度的解决方案。以小区开关切换为例，我们实现了串联应用，并利用真实网络数据在大型异构网络中对其进行评估。尽管串联应用概念尚属新颖，但通过商用网络软件的验证，其完全符合O-RAN标准。