Content for  TS 28.104  Word version:  18.3.0

This MDA capability is for network critical maintenance during RAN node software upgrade process.

As per the current mechanism of software upgrade at RAN node results in service disruption or huge operational cost. Consider a scenario, when a RAN Node is required to shut down manually to undergo critical maintenance for a very short duration of time. Software upgrade can be one such critical maintenance scenario. In such cases, all the resources (bearer, security functions, mobility management) that are managed by this RAN Node need to be purged and reconfigured at another RAN Node (standby RAN Node) or if another RAN Node is not available then resources will be reconfigured again when former RAN Node comes up after software upgrade. Both the situations lead to additional operational expenses and data loss. Operational expense in terms of all the resources to be released/attached again and data loss for all GBR sessions/bearer. It is expected to use MDAS to optimize the procedure of software upgrade at RAN Node by providing the right time to execute the required upgrade. The software upgrade should be automatically initiated by the OAM system, once configured, during the time frame when the expected impacts are minimum i.e. at the optimal time when there would be minimum expected operational cost and data loss. The Optimal Time (current or futuristic) can be derived by collecting and analysing the data related to DRBs including GBR/non-GBR, state, modification count, ongoing handover etc. MDAS can utilize historical data and AI/ML (e.g. time series based) algorithm to derive the future optimal time frame for software upgrade.