Control method, device and base station

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a control method and device and a base station, and the control method is applied to a host unit, and comprises the steps: determining a sub-region served by each radio frequency unit under the condition that each radio frequency unit is started; monitoring the working state of each radio frequency unit; controlling the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the served subarea; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to but is not limited to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a control method, device and base station. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technology, small base stations of the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th Generation, 5G) are often used for indoor 5G wireless signal coverage. Usually, each 5G small base station can be composed of 1 host unit and many radio units (Radio Unit, RU), and every 1-n RUs can be planned to cover 1 indoor area. In related technologies, the RU is controlled to enter the sleep mode according to the number of online users in the cell, which cannot flexibly adjust the energy consumption of the base station when the RU is abnormal. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, embodiments of the present application provide a control method, device, and base station.

[0004] The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is implemented as follows:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a control method, which is applied to a host unit, and the method includes: when each radio frequency unit is enabled, determining the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit; monitoring the working status of each radio frequency unit; based on the working status of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served, controlling the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

[0006] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a control device, the device comprising:

[0007] A first determination module, configured to determine the sub-area served by each RF unit when each RF unit is enabled;

[0008] A monitoring module, used to monitor the working status of each radio frequency unit;

[0009] The first control module is used to control the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

[0010] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a base station, comprising a host unit and a radio frequency unit, wherein: the radio frequency unit is used to send the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit to the host unit; the host unit is used to determine the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit when each radio frequency unit is enabled; monitor the working status of each radio frequency unit; based on the working status of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served, control the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

[0011] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory, and are not intended to limit the technical solutions of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of the specification. These drawings illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and are used together with the specification to illustrate the technical solution of the present application.

[0013] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an implementation flow of a control method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0014] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a hardware entity of a base station provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the present application are further elaborated in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. The described embodiments should not be regarded as limiting the present application. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in the field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0017] In the following description, reference is made to “some embodiments”, which describe a subset of all possible embodiments, but it will be understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all possible embodiments and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0018] It should be pointed out that the terms "first\second\third" involved in the embodiments of the present application are merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of the objects. It can be understood that "first\second\third" can be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of the present application described here can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described here.

[0019] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as the general understanding of those skilled in the art in the field to which the embodiments of the present application belong. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the prior art, and will not be interpreted with idealized or overly formal meanings unless specifically defined as here.

[0020] The present application embodiment provides a control method, which is applied to a host unit, such as Figure 1 As shown, the control method includes the following steps S101 to S103, wherein:

[0021] Step S101, when each radio frequency unit is enabled, determining the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit;

[0022] Here, the host unit may be the control center of the communication system, which is responsible for processing and managing various functions and tasks of the system. The radio frequency unit may be the key part of the communication system responsible for radio frequency signal processing. In a mobile communication base station, the radio frequency unit is responsible for converting the baseband optical signal in the base station into a radio frequency signal, and transmitting it after amplification through the antenna. In the planning, design and deployment of the communication system, the number and configuration of the radio frequency units need to be reasonably arranged according to actual needs to ensure the best performance and benefits of the system. The host unit and the radio frequency unit work together to ensure the normal operation and efficient performance of the communication system. The radio frequency unit being enabled may mean that the radio frequency unit has been activated and is ready for communication.

[0023] In some embodiments, when the RF unit is enabled, the RF unit sends a registration request to the host unit. The registration request is a signal or data packet, including the location information of each RF unit and the information of the sub-area served, wherein the information of the sub-area served can be the coordinates of the geographical location, the area identifier or other information that can uniquely identify the service range of the RF unit.

[0024] In some embodiments, after receiving the registration request, the host unit will parse the information in the registration request to determine the sub-area served by each radio unit. This process is part of the system configuration and initialization, which ensures that the host unit knows the location and coverage of each radio unit for effective management and control.

[0025] Step S102, monitoring the working status of each radio frequency unit;

[0026] Here, the working state of the RF unit may refer to the current operating state of the RF unit, including two basic working states: online and offline. Online means that the RF unit has been successfully started and established a connection with the host unit, and is in a state where normal communication can be carried out. Offline means that the RF unit has stopped working for some reason (for example, failure, maintenance, etc.), or the connection with the host unit has been interrupted, so it cannot participate in communication.

[0027] In some embodiments, the host unit continuously monitors the working status of each RF unit, so that potential problems can be discovered and solved in a timely manner. For example, if a RF unit suddenly changes from an online state to an offline state, the host unit can immediately take measures (e.g., send an alarm, start a standby RF unit, etc.) to ensure the normal operation of the system.

[0028] Step S103: Based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the served sub-area, control the radio frequency unit to be in the first state or the second state.

[0029] Here, the first state and the second state are two different working modes, which have different power consumption and performance characteristics. The first state can be a working state, indicating that the radio frequency unit is actively sending and receiving wireless signals to provide coverage for the served sub-area; the second state can be a sleep state, indicating that the radio frequency unit is not currently involved in the sending and receiving of wireless signals and is in low power consumption or standby mode. The power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state, which means that the radio frequency unit consumes more energy in the first state (working state) to provide higher performance or wider coverage, while the radio frequency unit in the second state (sleeping state) operates with lower power consumption, or may even be completely shut down to save energy.

[0030] Here, the coverage mode can be different working modes adopted by the radio frequency unit to meet the coverage requirements in different scenarios, including standard mode and energy-saving mode, which determine the power consumption and performance of the radio frequency unit when providing coverage. Among them, the standard mode is usually used under normal circumstances, which provides sufficient coverage and communication quality. The energy-saving mode is used when the coverage requirements are not so strict, and it saves energy by reducing the power consumption of the radio frequency unit.

[0031] In some embodiments, the host unit dynamically adjusts the working state of the RF unit according to the working state of the RF unit and the coverage mode of the served sub-area. Specifically, if the RF unit is in an online state and the served sub-area requires a high-power coverage mode (e.g., standard mode), the host unit controls the RF unit to enter a first state, i.e., a high-power working state. On the contrary, if the RF unit is in an idle state or the served sub-area has a low coverage requirement (e.g., energy-saving mode), the host unit controls the RF unit to enter a second state, i.e., a low-power sleep state.

[0032] In the embodiment of the present application, the host unit dynamically controls the RF unit to be in the first state or the second state according to the working state of the RF unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served, and can reasonably allocate energy according to actual needs, which helps to improve the energy efficiency of the entire communication system. For example, when the power consumption demand is high, the RF unit is controlled to be in the first state to provide the necessary communication coverage; when the power consumption demand is low, the RF unit is controlled to be in the second state to save energy.

[0033] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S103 “controlling the radio frequency unit to be in the first state or the second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the served sub-area” may include the following steps S111 to S113, wherein:

[0034] Step S111, obtaining a wireless coverage target;

[0035] Here, the wireless coverage target includes the sub-areas served by each RF unit and the corresponding coverage mode of each sub-area. The sub-area served by each RF unit can refer to a specific geographical area in the wireless communication network where each RF unit is responsible for providing coverage. These sub-areas are divided based on factors such as business needs, network planning or geographical features. The coverage mode refers to the coverage requirements provided by the wireless network in a specific sub-area, including parameters such as signal strength, coverage range, and frequency band usage. These parameters determine how the RF unit is configured and operated to meet the coverage requirements of the sub-area.

[0036] It should be noted that different sub-areas may have different coverage requirements. For example, a city center may require high-density coverage to support a large number of users and data traffic, while a remote area may only require basic coverage.

[0037] In some implementations, the wireless coverage target is obtained by local configuration or by requesting from a network administrator. The wireless coverage target can specify the service area and coverage requirements of each radio frequency unit, so that network operators can more effectively configure and manage radio frequency resources, thereby providing higher quality and more reliable wireless communication services.

[0038] Step S112, based on the working status of each RF unit, determining the satisfaction of the sub-area served by each RF unit under the coverage mode;

[0039] Here, the satisfaction may be whether the radio frequency unit can achieve the expected coverage effect, such as whether the signal strength is sufficient, whether all required geographical areas are covered, and so on.

[0040] In some embodiments, the host unit evaluates whether the RF unit can meet the coverage requirements of the sub-area based on the working state of the RF unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served, so as to guide subsequent state control decisions. If the RF unit is in an online state, and the coverage range and signal strength it provides meet the coverage requirements of the sub-area, then the RF unit is considered to be satisfied in the coverage mode. If the RF unit is in an offline state, resulting in it being unable to provide sufficient coverage, then the RF unit is considered to be unsatisfied in the coverage mode.

[0041] Step S113: Based on the satisfaction, control the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state.

[0042] In some embodiments, if the RF unit provides sufficient coverage in the sub-area it serves, that is, meets the requirements of the coverage mode, the host unit will choose to put the RF unit into the working state. On the contrary, if the RF unit fails to provide sufficient coverage, that is, fails to meet the requirements of the coverage mode, the host unit will choose to put the RF unit into the dormant state.

[0043] In the embodiments of the present application, on the one hand, by acquiring the wireless coverage target, the sub-areas served by each RF unit and the coverage modes required for these sub-areas can be accurately understood; on the other hand, according to the working status of the RF unit and the satisfaction of the served sub-areas under the coverage mode, the status of the RF unit can be intelligently managed, and the power consumption of the RF unit can be automatically adjusted according to actual needs, thereby maximizing energy efficiency.

[0044] In some embodiments, the working state includes online and offline; the implementation of step S112 "determining the satisfaction of the sub-area served by each RF unit in the coverage mode based on the working state of each RF unit" may include the following steps S121 to S123, wherein:

[0045] Step S121, when the current radio frequency unit is online, determining that the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current radio frequency unit in the coverage mode is correct;

[0046] In some embodiments, if the current RF unit is in an online state, the host unit assumes that the current RF unit can provide sufficient coverage for the sub-area it serves according to the predetermined coverage mode. Therefore, in this case, the host unit determines the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode as correct. This means that the host unit believes that the current RF unit is providing the required coverage as expected and its performance meets the requirements of the coverage mode.

[0047] Step S122, when the current RF unit is offline, determining whether there are other RF units in the current online RF unit list that have the same sub-area as that served by the current RF unit;

[0048] Here, the current online RF unit list may be a collection of RF units that are currently in working state. This list is dynamic and will be updated as the RF units go online and offline. If the RF unit is online, the RF unit is added to the current online RF unit list; if the RF unit is offline, the RF unit is deleted from the current online RF unit list.

[0049] In some implementations, if the current RF unit is in an offline state, the host unit needs to further check the current online RF unit list to determine whether there are other RF units in the same sub-area as that served by the current offline RF unit.

[0050] Step S123: If there are no other RF units in the current online RF unit list that are identical to the sub-area served by the current RF unit, determine the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode as an error.

[0051] In some embodiments, if there are no other RF units in the current online RF unit list that are the same as the sub-area served by the current offline RF unit, the host unit considers that the sub-area is not sufficiently covered in the current coverage mode. Therefore, in this case, the host unit determines the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode as an error. This means that the host unit considers that the current RF unit cannot provide the required coverage as expected.

[0052] In the embodiment of the present application, the coverage satisfaction of the service sub-area is evaluated according to the working state of the radio frequency unit (online or offline). When the state of the radio frequency unit changes (such as from online to offline), the host unit can respond quickly and re-evaluate the coverage, thereby making more efficient use of network resources.

[0053] In some embodiments, the coverage mode includes a standard mode and an energy-saving mode; the implementation of step S113 "based on the satisfaction, controlling the radio frequency unit to be in the first state or the second state" may include the following steps S131 to S134, wherein:

[0054] Step S131: when the satisfaction is an error and the coverage mode is an energy-saving mode, query whether there is a radio frequency unit in a second state from an online radio frequency unit list;

[0055] Here, standard mode is also called routing mode, which is the default working mode of the router. In standard mode, the RF unit connects to the core device of the network (for example, a broadband modem) and provides Internet access services to users through wired and wireless signals. Energy-saving mode is designed to reduce the power consumption of the RF unit to extend the service life of the RF unit and reduce energy consumption.

[0056] In some implementations, when the satisfiability is an error and the override mode is the energy-saving mode, the host unit checks the online RF unit list to determine whether there is a RF unit in the online RF unit list that is in a sleep or standby state.

[0057] Step S132: if there is a radio frequency unit in the second state in the online radio frequency unit list, wake up the radio frequency unit in the second state;

[0058] In some implementations, if there is a radio frequency unit in a dormant or standby state in the online radio frequency unit list, the host unit sends an instruction to the radio frequency unit in the dormant state to make the radio frequency unit exit the dormant state and change to an active state or a normal working state. The wake-up operation may include sending a specific wake-up signal to the radio frequency unit, adjusting its power state, etc.

[0059] Step S133: when the satisfaction is correct and the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode, query whether there are multiple radio frequency units in the first state from the online radio frequency unit list;

[0060] In some implementations, when the satisfiability is correct and the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode, the host unit will check the online radio frequency unit list again to determine whether there is an active or working radio frequency unit in the online radio frequency unit list.

[0061] Step S134: when there are multiple RF units in the first state in the online RF unit list, keep one of the RF units in the first state, and control the remaining RF units to be in the second state.

[0062] In some embodiments, if there are multiple working RF units in the online RF unit list, the host unit will keep one of the RF units in a working state to meet the coverage and performance requirements of the network, and at the same time control other RF units to switch to sleep or standby state, which can reduce unnecessary power consumption and extend the service life of the RF unit.

[0063] In the embodiment of the present application, when the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode, the host unit queries the online RF unit list and dynamically adjusts the state of the RF unit according to the satisfaction. When the satisfaction is wrong, the host unit wakes up the RF unit in the first state (for example, the sleep state) to meet the network demand; when the satisfaction is correct, the host unit keeps one RF unit in the first state (for example, the working state) and puts other RF units into the sleep state, thereby effectively reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0064] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S134 “when there are multiple RF units in the first state in the online RF unit list, keep one of the RF units in the first state, and control the remaining RF units to be in the second state” may include the following steps S141 to S144, wherein:

[0065] Step S141, obtaining a preset signal strength value and signal strength values ​​of a same sub-area served by a plurality of first-state radio frequency units in the online radio frequency unit list;

[0066] Here, the preset signal strength value may be set according to network planning or actual needs, and is used as a reference for determining whether the signal coverage of the radio frequency unit is sufficient.

[0067] In some embodiments, the host unit obtains a preset signal strength value and queries multiple radio frequency units in the first state (i.e., working state) in the online radio frequency unit list, and measures or calculates the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by them. The signal strength value of the sub-area can reflect the signal coverage of the radio frequency unit in the sub-area, that is, the strength or power level of the signal sent by the radio frequency unit in the sub-area.

[0068] Step S142, selecting radio frequency units whose signal strength values ​​serving the same sub-area are greater than or equal to the preset signal strength value from the online radio frequency unit list as candidate radio frequency units;

[0069] In some embodiments, the host unit can determine whether the signal coverage of the RF unit is sufficient by comparing the actual signal strength value of the RF unit with the preset signal strength value. If the signal strength value of the RF unit is greater than or equal to the preset signal strength value, then it can be considered that the signal coverage of the RF unit in the sub-area is sufficient. At this time, the host unit will filter out the RF units whose signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served are greater than or equal to the preset signal strength value from the online RF unit list as candidate RF units.

[0070] Step S143: when there are at least two candidate RF units, compare the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by each candidate RF unit;

[0071] In some embodiments, when the host unit determines through screening that there are at least two candidate RF units (i.e., these RF units all serve the same sub-area, and their signal strength values ​​are greater than or equal to a preset signal strength value), the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by these candidate RF units are further compared. This comparison process generally involves sorting or evaluating the signal strength value of each candidate RF unit to determine which RF unit provides the strongest signal coverage in the sub-area.

[0072] Step S144: Keep the candidate RF unit corresponding to the maximum signal strength value of the same sub-area served in the first state, and control the remaining candidate RF units to be in the second state.

[0073] In some embodiments, after determining multiple candidate RF units, the host unit further compares the signal strength values ​​of these candidate RF units; selects the candidate RF unit with the largest signal strength value and keeps it in the first state, that is, the active state. This RF unit will continue to work normally, provide network services, and ensure sufficient signal coverage and performance in the sub-area. For other candidate RF units, the system will change their state to the second state, that is, the sleep state or the low power state. This is done to reduce unnecessary power consumption, extend the service life of the RF unit, and optimize the resource utilization of the entire network system.

[0074] In an embodiment of the present application, the RF unit with the largest signal strength value is selected to remain active, which can ensure the best network coverage and performance in the sub-area; at the same time, putting other RF units into sleep or low-power state helps to reduce unnecessary power consumption, thereby optimizing resource utilization of the entire network system.

[0075] In some embodiments, after monitoring the working status of each RF unit, the implementation of the control method may further include the following steps S151 and S152, wherein:

[0076] Step S151, when the radio frequency unit is online, adding the identifier corresponding to the radio frequency unit, the sub-area served, and the signal strength value of the sub-area to the online radio frequency unit list;

[0077] In some embodiments, when the RF unit goes online, the host unit first obtains the relevant information of the RF unit, including its unique identification (such as ID number), the sub-area served (i.e., the geographical area covered by the RF unit), and the signal strength value of the sub-area (i.e., the signal strength emitted by the RF unit in the area). Then, this information is added to the online RF unit list. The online RF unit list is used to record all currently active RF units and their related information so that the system can query and manage them at any time.

[0078] Step S152: When the radio frequency unit is offline, the identifier corresponding to the radio frequency unit, the sub-area served, and the signal strength value of the sub-area are deleted from the online radio frequency unit list.

[0079] In some embodiments, when the RF unit goes offline, the host unit first searches for the relevant information of the RF unit in the online RF unit list. This is usually achieved through the unique identification of the RF unit (such as an ID number). Then, it is deleted from the online RF unit list. This means that the RF unit is no longer active, no longer provides services for any sub-area, and its relevant information no longer needs to be tracked and managed by the system in real time.

[0080] In an embodiment of the present application, the host unit can monitor the working status of the RF unit in real time, and immediately update the online RF unit list when the RF unit goes online or offline, thereby ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the online RF unit list and helping to avoid network problems caused by outdated or erroneous information.

[0081] In some embodiments, the radio frequency unit includes a first radio frequency unit and a second radio frequency unit, and the implementation of the control method may further include the following steps S161 and S162, wherein:

[0082] Step S161, when the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is the standard mode and the satisfiability is correct, respectively determining whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a first preset time period;

[0083] Here, the first preset time period may be a specific time window for observing and evaluating the performance and state of the radio frequency unit in the standard mode.

[0084] In some embodiments, the host unit first checks whether the coverage mode of the first RF unit and the second RF unit in the same sub-area served by the same RF unit is a standard mode, and whether the performance meets the requirements. If the coverage mode and the performance meet the requirements, the two RF units will be detected for abnormalities within a first preset time period. This usually involves collecting and analyzing the real-time performance data of the RF units to determine whether there are abnormalities.

[0085] Step S162: When there is no abnormality in the first RF unit and the second RF unit within a first preset time period, control the first RF unit and the second RF unit to be in a first state.

[0086] In some implementations, when both the first RF unit and the second RF unit are normal within a first preset time period, the two RF units are controlled to enter a first state (ie, an active state).

[0087] In an embodiment of the present application, after determining that there is no abnormality in the first RF unit and the second RF unit within a first preset time period, the first RF unit and the second RF unit are placed in a first state (i.e., a working state) to optimize resource utilization and improve network stability.

[0088] In some embodiments, the radio frequency unit includes a first radio frequency unit and a second radio frequency unit, and the implementation of the control method may further include the following steps S171 to S173, wherein:

[0089] Step S171: when the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is the energy-saving mode and the satisfiability is correct, respectively determine whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a second preset time period;

[0090] Here, the second preset time period may be a specific time window for observing and evaluating the performance and state of the radio frequency unit in the energy-saving mode.

[0091] In some embodiments, the host unit first checks whether the coverage mode of the first RF unit and the second RF unit in the same sub-area served by the same unit is an energy-saving mode, and whether the performance meets the requirements. If the coverage mode and the performance meet the requirements, the two RF units will be detected for abnormalities within a second preset time period. This usually involves collecting and analyzing the real-time performance data of the RF units to determine whether there is an abnormality.

[0092] Step S172: When there is no abnormality in the first RF unit and the second RF unit within a second preset time period, control the first RF unit to be in a first state and the second RF unit to be in a second state; or control the second RF unit to be in the first state and the first RF unit to be in the second state;

[0093] In some embodiments, when both the first RF unit and the second RF unit are operating in energy-saving mode, and within a second preset time period, the performance indicators of the first RF unit and the second RF unit remain stable and no abnormalities occur, the first RF unit is controlled to be in an operating state, while the second RF unit is put into a sleep state, so that network coverage is ensured by allowing the first RF unit to provide services, and the second RF unit is put into sleep state to save power; or, the second RF unit is controlled to be in an operating state, while the first RF unit is put into sleep state, so that network coverage is ensured by allowing the second RF unit to provide services, and the first RF unit is put into sleep state to save power.

[0094] Step S173: When the first RF unit is abnormal within the second preset time period and the second RF unit is normal within the second preset time period, wake up the second RF unit to put the second RF unit in the first state.

[0095] In some embodiments, within the second preset time period, if an abnormality occurs in the first RF unit and no abnormality occurs in the second RF unit, the second RF unit is awakened from the current low power consumption state (ie, sleep state) and enters the first state (ie, working state).

[0096] In the embodiment of the present application, the host unit can continuously monitor the status of the radio frequency unit and take timely measures when an abnormality is detected. For example, when an abnormality occurs in the first radio frequency unit, the second radio frequency unit is awakened to ensure the continuity of network coverage.

[0097] In the operation of 5G small base stations, the cost of energy consumption is huge and is the most important operating cost that operators cannot ignore. From a hardware perspective, power consumption can be reduced by controlling the radio frequency unit to enter sleep mode or silencing some devices, but the base station needs to have overall energy-saving methods and strategies. A typical energy-saving method is as follows: the operation, management and maintenance (OAM) of the base station controls the RU equipment of the cell to enter sleep mode according to the time period; the OAM of the base station controls the RU equipment to silence some RF devices according to the utilization rate of the physical resource block (PRB) of the cell; the OAM of the base station controls the RU equipment to enter sleep mode according to the number of online users in the cell.

[0098] From the perspective of the actual application scenarios of 5G small base stations, the above energy-saving methods have the following shortcomings: only user load is used as the basis for energy-saving decisions, ignoring the risk that energy-saving control may introduce signal coverage blind spots; RUs are not classified in the dimension of signal coverage to perform detailed energy-saving control; and there is no way to deal with RU anomalies and flexibly adjust the energy consumption of base stations when anomalies occur and are resolved.

[0099] The embodiment of the present application provides a 5G small base station with intelligent wireless coverage and energy-saving control, which is suitable for 5G private network application scenarios and supports operators to divide the entire wireless network coverage area into multiple signal coverage sub-areas for wireless coverage management. The wireless coverage requirements are shown in Table 1.

[0100] Table 1

[0101]

[0102] The design and implementation of the embodiments of the present application require that both the host unit OAM and RU in the related art be enhanced. Specifically:

[0103] 1. The radio unit explicitly declares its wireless coverage capability information.

[0104] Before deploying the RU, the network administrator needs to understand the 5G cell served by the RU and the sub-area served by the RU. When deploying the RU, the network administrator should test the 5G signal coverage effect of the RU independently enabled on the sub-area. Under the condition that it can be greater than the minimum RSRP of the cell, the network administrator can configure the RU to have the wireless capability to cover the sub-area. It should be noted that in actual applications, it may be necessary to test the average coverage effect of many detailed points. The radio frequency unit needs to implement: accepting wireless capability configuration; when the radio frequency unit is enabled, it initiates a Netconf registration request on the management plane to the host unit OAM, and carries its wireless coverage capability information and RSRP when reporting capability information in the registration request. The wireless coverage capability information includes the sub-area that this RU can cover. All sub-areas can use the same minimum RSRP parameter (manually set) in common, or each sub-area can reference a different minimum RSRP parameter.

[0105] 2. When the host unit OAM reports the RU online / offline event, it carries the RU wireless coverage capability information.

[0106] When the host unit detects that the RU device is online or offline, the host unit knows that these two types of events carry the sub-area information covered by the RU. The host unit can also add the maintenance of the sub-area information and RSRP in the maintenance of its RU status list, as shown in Table 2.

[0107] Table 2

[0108]

[0109] 3. The host unit OAM sets wireless coverage targets in sub-areas.

[0110] The wireless coverage target configuration is obtained by local configuration or by requesting it from the network management. The configuration includes multiple sub-areas and their corresponding coverage modes. The coverage mode is standard or energy-saving mode. The coverage mode can be combined with the time period to obtain more flexible energy-saving switch control.

[0111] 4. The host unit OAM monitors the satisfaction of the wireless coverage target of each sub-area and performs RU sleep and wake-up actions.

[0112] When the configuration of the wireless coverage target takes effect, the host unit must manage the satisfaction of the wireless coverage target in real time. Monitor the satisfaction of the wireless coverage target: when an RU online event is monitored, add a new RU to the online RU list according to the RU ID provided in the online event, and assign the coverage satisfaction of the corresponding sub-area to True; when an RU offline event is monitored, delete the RU from the online RU list according to the RU ID provided in the offline event, and if the current online RU list is empty, assign the coverage satisfaction to FALSE (a sub-area can be covered by multiple RUs. If no RU covers this sub-area, the coverage satisfaction of this sub-area is FALSE). The wireless coverage target satisfaction list is shown in Table 3.

[0113] Table 3

[0114]

[0115] The host unit performs RU sleep and wake-up: no processing is performed on the sub-area whose coverage mode is the standard mode; for the sub-area whose coverage mode is the energy-saving mode and the current satisfaction status is FALSE, query whether there is a dormant RRU in its online RU list, and if so, wake up the queried RU. After successfully waking up the RU, set the coverage satisfaction to TRUE; for the sub-area whose coverage mode is the energy-saving mode and the current satisfaction status is TRUE, query whether there are multiple working RUs in its online RU list, and if so, keep one of the RUs to continue working and command the other RUs to enter the dormant state.

[0116] A 5G small base station is planned to cover a complex building, and a time-sharing energy-saving strategy is implemented for the coverage plan of the first floor lobby. Standard wireless signal coverage is carried out during the 9:00-18:00 period, and energy-saving wireless signal coverage is carried out during the 18:01-8:59 the next day. Two RUs are planned to be deployed, and each RU can independently provide 5G signals that meet the minimum RSRP requirements. The maintenance process of 5G small base station OAM for wireless coverage target satisfaction is as follows.

[0117] 1) During the time period of executing the standard mode, when both RUs are normal, RU1 and RU2 are both in working state, as shown in Table 4.

[0118] Table 4

[0119]

[0120] 2) During the time period when the energy-saving mode is executed, if both RUs are normal, OAM will command RU2 to sleep, as shown in Table 5.

[0121] Table 5

[0122]

[0123] 3) During the energy-saving mode period, if RU1 suddenly goes offline abnormally, OAM will wake up RU2 to the working state, as shown in Table 6.

[0124] Table 6

[0125]

[0126] In the embodiment of the present application, the host unit monitors the satisfiability of wireless coverage in real time, dynamically controls the RU device to enter a dormant state or be awakened, flexibly responds to possible RU anomalies and updates energy-saving control in real time. It has the following advantages: dynamically implement energy-saving control to reduce the power consumption of base stations; take into account the user's requirements for wireless signal coverage while maintaining low energy consumption, and always provide the best wireless signal coverage; finely control the energy consumption management of each RU; when an RU anomaly is found, the dormant RU can be flexibly awakened to ensure wireless signal coverage, and when the RU anomaly is restored, the redundancy of wireless signal coverage can be determined (that is, multiple RUs can cover the same area) and the RU can be flexibly controlled to enter a dormant state.

[0127] Based on the above embodiments, the present application provides a control device, such as Figure 2 As shown, the control device 200 includes:

[0128] A first determination module 210 is used to determine the sub-area served by each RF unit when each RF unit is enabled;

[0129] A monitoring module 220, configured to monitor the working status of each radio frequency unit;

[0130] The first control module 230 is used to control the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first control module 230 includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring a wireless coverage target; the wireless coverage target includes a sub-area served by each RF unit and a coverage mode corresponding to each sub-area; a determination unit for determining, based on a working state of each RF unit, the satisfaction of the sub-area served by each RF unit under the coverage mode; and a control unit for controlling the RF unit to be in a first state or a second state based on the satisfaction.

[0132] In some embodiments, the working status includes online and offline; the determination unit includes: a first determination subunit, used to determine the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode as correct when the current RF unit is online; a second determination subunit, used to determine whether there are other RF units in the current online RF unit list that are the same as the sub-area served by the current RF unit when the current RF unit is offline; a third determination subunit, used to determine the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode as incorrect when there are no other RF units in the current online RF unit list that are the same as the sub-area served by the current RF unit.

[0133] In some embodiments, the coverage mode includes a standard mode and an energy-saving mode; the control unit includes: a first query subunit, used to query whether there is a second-state RF unit in the online RF unit list when the satisfaction is false and the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode; a wake-up subunit, used to wake up the second-state RF unit when there is a second-state RF unit in the online RF unit list; a second query subunit, used to query whether there are multiple first-state RF units in the online RF unit list when the satisfaction is correct and the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode; a control subunit, used to keep one of the RF units in the first state and control the remaining RF units to be in the second state when there are multiple first-state RF units in the online RF unit list.

[0134] In some embodiments, the control subunit includes: an acquisition program for acquiring a preset signal strength value and the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by multiple first-state RF units in the online RF unit list; a determination program for filtering out RF units from the online RF unit list when the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served are greater than or equal to the preset signal strength values ​​as candidate RF units; a comparison program for comparing the signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by each candidate RF unit when there are at least two candidate RF units; and a control program for keeping the candidate RF unit corresponding to the maximum signal strength value of the same sub-area served in the first state, and controlling the remaining candidate RF units to be in the second state.

[0135] In some embodiments, after monitoring the working status of each RF unit, the control device 200 also includes: an adding module, which is used to add the identifier corresponding to the RF unit, the sub-area served, and the signal strength value of the sub-area to the online RF unit list when the RF unit is online; and a deleting module, which is used to delete the identifier corresponding to the RF unit, the sub-area served, and the signal strength value of the sub-area from the online RF unit list when the RF unit is offline.

[0136] In some embodiments, the RF unit includes a first RF unit and a second RF unit, and the control device 200 also includes: a second determination module, used to determine whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a first preset time period when the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is a standard mode and the satisfaction is correct; a second control module, used to control the first RF unit and the second RF unit to be in a first state when there is no abnormality in the first preset time period.

[0137] In some embodiments, the RF unit includes a first RF unit and a second RF unit, and the control device 200 also includes: a third determination module, used to determine whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a second preset time period when the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is an energy-saving mode and the satisfaction is correct; a third control module, used to control the first RF unit to be in a first state and the second RF unit to be in a second state when both the first RF unit and the second RF unit are normal within the second preset time period; or, control the second RF unit to be in the first state and the first RF unit to be in the second state; a wake-up module, used to wake up the second RF unit when the first RF unit is abnormal within the second preset time period and the second RF unit is normal within the second preset time period, so that the second RF unit is in the first state.

[0138] The description of the above device embodiment is similar to the description of the above method embodiment, and has similar beneficial effects as the method embodiment. For technical details not disclosed in the device embodiment of the present application, please refer to the description of the method embodiment of the present application for understanding.

[0139] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, if the above method is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, it can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the relevant technology can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable an electronic device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a disk or an optical disk. In this way, the embodiment of the present application is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

[0140] The present application embodiment provides a base station, such as Figure 3 As shown, the base station 300 includes a host unit 310 and a radio frequency unit 320, wherein:

[0141] The radio frequency unit 310 is used to send the sub-areas served by each radio frequency unit to the host unit;

[0142] The host unit 320 is used to determine the sub-area served by each RF unit when each RF unit is enabled; monitor the working status of each RF unit; and control the RF unit to be in a first state or a second state based on the working status of each RF unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

[0143] The embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, and the computer program implements the above method when executed by a processor. The computer-readable storage medium may be transient or non-transient.

[0144] The embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, and when the computer program is read and executed by a computer, some or all of the steps in the above method are implemented. The computer program product can be implemented specifically by hardware, software or a combination thereof. In an optional embodiment, the computer program product is embodied as a computer storage medium, and in another optional embodiment, the computer program product is embodied as a software product, such as a software development kit (Software Development Kit, SDK) and the like.

[0145] It should be noted here that the description of the above storage medium and device embodiments is similar to the description of the above method embodiments, and has similar beneficial effects as the method embodiments. For technical details not disclosed in the storage medium and device embodiments of this application, please refer to the description of the method embodiments of this application for understanding.

[0146] It should be understood that "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mentioned throughout the specification means that specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial number of each step / process mentioned above does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each step / process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application. The serial numbers of the embodiments of the present application mentioned above are for description only and do not represent the advantages and disadvantages of the embodiments.

[0147] It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." does not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element.

[0148] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as: multiple units or components can be combined, or can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the components shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of the devices or units can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0149] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units; they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units; some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0150] In addition, all functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may be a separate unit, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit; the above-mentioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0151] A person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps of implementing the above method embodiment can be completed by hardware related to program instructions, and the aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it executes the steps of the above method embodiment; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: mobile storage devices, read-only memories (ROM), magnetic disks or optical disks, etc., various media that can store program codes.

[0152] Alternatively, if the above-mentioned integrated unit of the present application is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, it can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can essentially or in other words, the part that contributes to the relevant technology can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for an electronic device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as mobile storage devices, ROMs, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0153] The above is only an implementation method of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A control method, applied to a host unit, comprising: When each radio frequency unit is enabled, determining a sub-area served by each radio frequency unit; Monitoring the working status of each radio frequency unit; Based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the served sub-area, controlling the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state; The power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

2. The method according to claim 1, controlling the radio frequency unit to be in the first state or the second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served, comprises: Get wireless coverage target; The wireless coverage target includes the sub-areas served by each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode corresponding to each sub-area; Based on the working status of each radio frequency unit, determine the satisfaction of the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit under the coverage mode; Based on the satisfaction, the radio frequency unit is controlled to be in a first state or a second state.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the working status includes online and offline; Determining, based on the working status of each radio frequency unit, the satisfaction of the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit under the coverage mode, includes: When the current radio frequency unit is online, determining that the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current radio frequency unit in the coverage mode is correct; When the current RF unit is offline, determining whether there are other RF units in the current online RF unit list that have the same sub-area as that served by the current RF unit; When there are no other RF units in the current online RF unit list that are identical to the sub-area served by the current RF unit, the satisfaction of the sub-area served by the current RF unit in the coverage mode is determined to be an error.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the coverage mode comprises a standard mode and an energy-saving mode; Based on the satisfaction, controlling the radio frequency unit to be in a first state or a second state includes: When the satisfaction is an error and the coverage mode is an energy-saving mode, querying whether there is a radio frequency unit in the second state from an online radio frequency unit list; In a case where there is a radio frequency unit in the second state in the online radio frequency unit list, waking up the radio frequency unit in the second state; When the satisfaction is correct and the coverage mode is the energy-saving mode, querying whether there are multiple radio frequency units in the first state from an online radio frequency unit list; In the case that there are a plurality of RF units in the first state in the online RF unit list, one of the RF units is kept in the first state, and the remaining RF units are controlled to be in the second state.

5. The method according to claim 4, when there are multiple RF units in the first state in the online RF unit list, keeping one of the RF units in the first state and controlling the remaining RF units to be in the second state, comprising: Obtaining a preset signal strength value and signal strength values ​​of a same sub-area served by a plurality of first-state radio frequency units in the online radio frequency unit list; Filtering out radio frequency units whose signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served are greater than or equal to the preset signal strength value from the online radio frequency unit list as candidate radio frequency units; When there are at least two candidate RF units, comparing signal strength values ​​of the same sub-area served by each candidate RF unit; The candidate radio frequency unit corresponding to the maximum signal strength value of the same sub-area served is kept in the first state, and the remaining candidate radio frequency units are controlled to be in the second state.

6. The method according to claim 1, after monitoring the working status of each radio frequency unit, the method further comprises: When the radio frequency unit is online, an identifier corresponding to the radio frequency unit, a sub-area served, and a signal strength value of the sub-area are added to an online radio frequency unit list; In the case that the radio frequency unit is offline, the identifier corresponding to the radio frequency unit, the sub-area served, and the signal strength value of the sub-area are deleted from the online radio frequency unit list.

7. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the radio frequency unit comprises a first radio frequency unit and a second radio frequency unit, and the method further comprises: When the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is a standard mode and the satisfiability is correct, respectively determining whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a first preset time period; When there is no abnormality in the first RF unit and the second RF unit within a first preset time period, the first RF unit and the second RF unit are controlled to be in a first state.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the radio frequency unit comprises a first radio frequency unit and a second radio frequency unit, and the method further comprises: When the coverage mode corresponding to the same sub-area served by the first RF unit and the second RF unit is the energy-saving mode and the satisfiability is correct, respectively determining whether the first RF unit and the second RF unit are abnormal within a second preset time period; When there is no abnormality in the first RF unit and the second RF unit within a second preset time period, control the first RF unit to be in a first state and the second RF unit to be in a second state; or control the second RF unit to be in the first state and the first RF unit to be in the second state; When the first RF unit is abnormal within a second preset time period and the second RF unit is normal within the second preset time period, the second RF unit is awakened to put the second RF unit in a first state.

9. A control device, comprising: A first determination module, configured to determine the sub-area served by each RF unit when each RF unit is enabled; A monitoring module, used to monitor the working status of each radio frequency unit; A first control module, configured to control the radio frequency units to be in a first state or a second state based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the sub-area served; The power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

10. A base station, comprising a host unit and a radio frequency unit, wherein: The radio frequency unit is used to send the sub-areas served by each radio frequency unit to the host unit; The host unit is used to determine the sub-area served by each radio frequency unit when each radio frequency unit is enabled; and monitor the working status of each radio frequency unit; Based on the working state of each radio frequency unit and the coverage mode of the served sub-area, the radio frequency unit is controlled to be in a first state or a second state; wherein the power consumption of the first state is greater than the power consumption of the second state.

Images