In this newly-released white paper from the Oppo Research Institute, the authors posit the need for an additional plane in 6G telecoms networks, beyond the control and user planes. This additional plane would be the AI functional plane.
The authors suggest that “The 6G system will be implemented with the AI functionality built-in. The purpose of the AI function is to provide the necessary capabilities (e.g. AI models, analytical support, pre-processing data etc.) for the CP function and the UP function to enable AI functionality in 6G system. For this reason, the AI functional plane needs to support data collection/storage, machine learning and training, AI reasoning and model management/distribution [4]. These general AI functions are necessary means to empower the CP and the UP to support intelligent data analytics. In additional to the AI functions, new supporting functions are needed to provide additional capabilities specifically for the AI functional plane which are: AI connectivity support, AI domain management, and AI capability exposure.”
The authors go on to describe how such an AI plane could function and integrate with the control and user plane functions in order to deliver the levels of flexibility and service delivery being asked of future networks. This is a thought-provoking read.
Access the whole white paper here
