Method for managing an auxiliary power supply of a base station

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network, comprising steps of receiving (200, 201) a message indicating at least one residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of the base station, and applying (202) a particular energy saving strategy at least as a function of the indicated residual capacity. A device for implementing such a method is also proposed. Figure for abstract: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for managing an auxiliary power supply of a base station Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of energy management for base stations in mobile telecommunications networks. More specifically, it relates to a method for optimizing the use of an auxiliary power supply in order to maintain the continuity of communication services during a failure of the main power supply. Prior art

[0002] In the prior art, various methods have been developed for providing backup power to base stations of mobile networks in the event of a failure of the main power grid. These methods include the use of auxiliary power sources such as batteries and generators. Although these systems are capable of providing temporary power, they have limitations in terms of the duration of the backup power and the efficient management of the available energy.

[0003] Auxiliary power management does not optimally consider service priorities or residual power capacity, which may result in inefficient use of backup power and premature interruption of communication services.

[0004] There is therefore a need for more strategic management of auxiliary energy that would allow the operating time of base stations to be extended during power outages, while maintaining the quality and availability of essential communication services. Summary of the invention

[0005] To this end, a method is proposed for managing an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network, comprising the following steps: - Receiving a message indicating at least one residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of the base station, and - Application of a particular energy saving strategy at least according to the indicated residual capacity.

[0006] In this way, the method makes it possible to extend the operating time of the base station in the event of a failure of the main power grid. Thus, for example, a particular strategy with little impact on the service offered by the base station can be applied when the auxiliary power supply still has good capacity. If the outage continues and the residual capacity of the auxiliary power supply decreases by a certain proportion, a second strategy is applied to extend the operating time in return for a reduction in the quality of the service offered.

[0007] In a particular embodiment, the method is such that it comprises receiving a message comprising an indication relating to the type of power supply currently in use by the base station, the energy saving strategy being adjusted according to the type of power supply.

[0008] Such information makes it possible to determine that the base station no longer has a main power supply in order to apply a particular energy saving strategy and allows more precise adaptation of the energy saving strategy according to the specific characteristics of the auxiliary power supply.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment, the method is such that the energy saving strategy comprises the definition of several residual capacity thresholds, the application of a strategy comprising a step of progressive deactivation of the radio units of the base station when the residual capacity falls below the defined thresholds.

[0010] In this way, the method allows gradual management of energy consumption, thus avoiding an abrupt cut-off of services. The method thus makes it possible to minimize the impact on the services provided by first deactivating the least critical services, while maintaining the essential services as long as possible.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, the progressively deactivated radio units comprise 5G, 4G and 3G units.

[0012] Such an arrangement makes it possible to prioritize communication services according to their importance and their energy consumption, while retaining basic services for emergency or essential communications.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, when the residual capacity is below the lowest threshold, the strategy comprises keeping only one 2G radio unit in operation to provide a minimum service.

[0014] In this way, the method ensures the continuity of a minimal communication service, essential for emergency situations and priority calls.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, the method comprises receiving a message comprising forecast information on the duration of the breakdown of the main electrical network, the energy saving strategy being selected as a function of the forecast duration of the breakdown.

[0016] In this way, the method allows proactive energy management, by adapting the saving strategy according to forecasts, to maximize the availability of services. It is thus possible to modify the thresholds or adjust the saving strategy energy depending on whether the outage is expected to be short-term or long-term.

[0017] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network, the device comprising a processor coupled to a memory in which program instructions are recorded configured to implement the following steps: - Receiving a message indicating at least one residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of the base station, and - Application of a particular energy saving strategy at least according to the indicated residual capacity.

[0018] The invention also relates to a control unit comprising a management device as described above.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the steps of the management method are determined by computer program instructions.

[0020] Consequently, the invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of the steps of a management method as described above, when the program is executed by a processor.

[0021] This program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0022] The invention also relates to a computer-readable information medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for executing the steps of a management method as described above.

[0023] The information medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, a flash memory, or a magnetic recording means, such as a hard disk.

[0024] On the other hand, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention may be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0025] Alternatively, the information carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

[0026] The various embodiments or features mentioned above may be added independently or in combination with each other, to the steps of the method of configuration.

[0027] The devices, control unit, programs and information media have advantages similar to those conferred by the management method. Brief description of the figures

[0028] Other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading a preferred embodiment described with reference to the appended drawings among which: - [Fig.l] represents an environment suitable for implementing the management method according to a particular embodiment, - [Fig.2] is a flowchart representing the main stages of a management process according to a particular implementation, - [Fig.3] is a diagram representing the architecture of a suitable device to implement the management process in a particular realization.

[0029] Detailed embodiment

[0030] In the following description, embodiments are described on the basis of non-limiting examples making it possible to explain the concepts on which the invention is based. In particular, although the examples and the terminology used may refer to certain well-known technologies or standards, these references are not limiting and other technologies may be adapted to implement the concepts of the invention.

[0031] The present invention describes a method for optimizing the use of an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network during a failure of the main power supply. The method is implemented by a control unit integrated into the base station or communicating with it.

[0032] [Fig.l] represents an environment suitable for implementing the management method in a particular embodiment.

[0033] The environment comprises a radio access point 100, for example a base station of a cellular communication network, such as a BTS, a Node-B, an eNode-B, or even a gNode-B depending on the technology of the cellular network.

[0034] The radio access point 100 comprises an antenna 101, an electrical controller 102 for controlling the electrical power supply of the station, an auxiliary electrical power supply 103 and a communication module 104.

[0035] The electrical controller 102 makes it possible to connect the base station to an electrical network 105, or to the auxiliary power supply 103 in the event of a failure of the electrical network 105 to maintain the service for a certain period.

[0036] The auxiliary power supply 103 may be a generator using a thermal engine associated with a fuel reserve, a battery or any other known emergency power supply device. The auxiliary power supply 103 comprises at least one suitable sensor to determine the amount of residual energy, for example a fuel gauge or a load control device.

[0037] The communication module 104 allows the base station 100 to exchange information with equipment of a communication network 106, for example a cellular network core, to establish audio, video communications or exchange data between users of the network, or exchange signaling with other entities of the communication system.

[0038] According to a particular embodiment, the communication network 106 comprises a control unit 107. However, in certain embodiments, the control unit 107 is integrated into the base station or into a device for supervising the latter. The control unit 107 is for example a computing device such as a server equipped with a processor coupled to a memory and to a communication module adapted to execute the power management method according to a particular embodiment. The control unit 107 communicates with one or more base stations to monitor the state of the power supply and manage the energy saving strategies.

[0039] In a particular embodiment, the control unit 107 is integrated into a supervision system of the Operations Support System (OSS), Network Management System (NMS) or OMC (for Operation & Maintenance Center in English) type. These supervision systems are responsible for the overall management of the network, including the monitoring, configuration, administration and maintenance of the various elements of the network, such as base stations, transport networks and network services.

[0040] NMS or OSS in a 5G network plays a crucial role in network resource management, performance optimization, fault management, and service policy implementation. It also enables the integration and coordination of advanced network functions, such as network slicing, service orchestration, and network automation.

[0041] In certain embodiments, the control unit is integrated into an O-RAN SMO (Service Management and Orchestration Framework) type environment, an O-RAN optimization application (rApp) executed in a “Non-RealThne RIC” (Non-RT RIC) environment, an external application (xApp) executed in an O-RAN “near-RealTime RAN Intelligent Controller” (near-RT RIC) environment, a proprietary module of a network monitoring service.

[0042] [Fig.2] is a flowchart representing the main steps of a management method according to a particular embodiment.

[0043] During a step 200, the control unit monitors a failure indicator of a main power supply of a base station in order to detect a failure of the main power supply. The indicator is updated by the electrical controller 102 of the base station 100, for example from voltage sensors or by software signals from the base station's power management system.

[0044] Thus, when a fault in the main power supply is detected, the controller 102 switches the power supply from the base station to the auxiliary power supply 103. The auxiliary power supply 103 is independent of the main power supply 105. It may be a battery or a generator driven by a thermal engine, which may or may not be associated with energy production devices such as solar panels or wind turbines for example.

[0045] Such an auxiliary power supply generally has a limited autonomy, which depends mainly on the capacity of the battery or the fuel tank in the case of a generator set. This autonomy can be extended by the use of additional energy sources such as photovoltaic cells or wind turbines.

[0046] The communication module 104 of the base station transmits a message to the control unit 107 to notify the change in the type of power supply. For example, this message may be at least partly compliant with the O-RAN Alliance specifications “01 Interface specification for O-DU” or with the “5G performance measurements” standard of the 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project). The message includes, for example, information relating to the nature of the power supply of the base station, for example data indicating that the base station is currently operating on a main or auxiliary power source, as well as optionally the nature and number of these power sources (mains, battery, generator, photovoltaic, etc.) for each type of power supply currently in use.This information is for example transmitted in accordance with PEE (for “Power Energy and Environmental” in English) measurements, by introducing for example a new parameter OR.PEE.PowerSource making it possible to identify the energy source used by a base station (for example “Public Grid” for a main power supply on the electrical network, or “Site battery” when the base station operates on an auxiliary power supply). Thus, in certain embodiments, in the event of a modification of the power supply of the base station, a message indicating the current power supply mode is sent to the control unit 107.

[0047] When a failure of the main power supply of the base station 100 is detected in step 200, the control unit implements a step 201 during which data concerning the residual capacity of one or more auxiliary power supplies are obtained by receiving a message. This information may be provided by voltage sensors of the controller 102 and transmitted to the control unit 107 by the communication module 104 of the base station. The in Residual capacity information consists, for example, of a percentage of energy remaining in a battery or fuel remaining in a tank. The message may include such information for a plurality of energy sources. For example, the message may include multiple energy source identifiers associated with the corresponding residual capacities.

[0048] Of course, such residual capacity information can be associated with a main power supply, for example when the base station is nominally powered by a generator.

[0049] In some embodiments, the information relating to the residual charge is provided through an O-RAN 01 interface for 0-DU in the form of Power Energy and Environmental (PEE) measurements, for example by introducing a new parameter OR.PEE.BatteryLevel indicating the residual capacity of the auxiliary power supply.

[0050] These indicators can also be exposed by the base station and transmitted to the control unit 107 via a performance measurement interface defined by the 3GPP by introducing for example new parameters “PNF Power Source” and “PNF Battery Level”.

[0051] From the indication relating to the residual capacity of the auxiliary power supply 103, the control unit 107 determines an energy saving strategy during a step 202. In other words, one or more energy saving strategies are determined at least from the residual capacity of the power supply currently in use.

[0052] According to a particular embodiment, a strategy is associated with a particular residual capacity threshold (for example, 70%, 50% and 20%) and may consist of a progressive deactivation of certain particular radio units (5G, 4G, 3G) when the capacity falls below these thresholds. For example, a first strategy may be implemented when the residual capacity reaches 70%, a second strategy may be implemented when the capacity is no more than 50% and a third strategy is applied when the residual capacity is no more than 20%.

[0053] For example, from 70% remaining capacity, a first strategy may consist of deactivating 5G technology, then when the residual capacity reaches 50%, 4G access is deactivated. Finally, when the residual capacity reaches the lowest threshold, the control unit keeps only essential services, such as the 2G radio unit, in operation to ensure basic communication.

[0054] Of course, these strategies can be associated with a number of thresholds and different threshold values ​​without modifying the invention.

[0055] Thus, according to a particular embodiment, these different saving strategies are determined from static rules and may consist of a deactivation of one or more particular radio access technologies (RATs) when a particular residual capacity threshold is reached.

[0056] According to a particular embodiment, the strategies are determined dynamically from a base station energy consumption model and / or battery characteristics. For example, the radio units are deactivated according to their average energy consumption, traffic information, an average usage over a period preceding the outage, a usage statistic based on a history, etc.

[0057] According to a particular embodiment, the decision to apply a particular strategy is determined by applying a predictive model trained to predict a particular radio unit to be deactivated from historical consumption and / or traffic data relating to the base station or an equivalent base station.

[0058] After determining a saving strategy to be applied, the control unit 107 sends a command to the base station 100 that it applies the strategy. The command is for example sent in a message comprising one or more suitable instructions.

[0059] According to a particular embodiment, the implementation of a particular strategy comprises a step of communicating with the user devices to inform them of changes in the availability of the services due to the application of the energy saving strategy.

[0060] The control unit 107 receives at regular intervals messages comprising an update of the residual capacity of the auxiliary power supply and adjusts the energy saving strategy in real time to maximize the operating time of the communication services. Thus, when an update of the residual capacity is received, the control unit again executes the steps 201 and 202 described above.

[0061] In a particular embodiment, the control unit 107 receives a message comprising forecast information on the duration of the outage of the main electrical network, the energy saving strategy and / or the thresholds associated with different strategies are then selected accordingly. For example, when the forecast outage duration is less than the autonomy of the auxiliary power supply at nominal regime, a strategy may consist of maintaining a nominal configuration up to a threshold corresponding to the forecast outage duration, calculated from an average consumption of the base station.

[0062] In step 203, upon receipt of a message indicating a return to normal of the main electrical power supply, the control unit 107 transmits a command to deactivate the energy strategies implemented.

[0063] Such a control unit thus makes it possible to provide efficient management of auxiliary energy in the base stations of mobile networks, by extending the duration of operation of communication services during power outages and minimizing the impact on end users.

[0064] In some embodiments, the control unit 107 interacts with one or more neighboring base stations to compensate for degradation of service at a base station whose main power is cut off.

[0065] For example, the control unit 107 may rebalance the load by signaling to a supervisory device that a base station is operating on auxiliary power. The supervisory device may then initiate load rebalancing, redirecting users to neighboring base stations with stable power.

[0066] The control unit 107 may also adjust the signal strength of neighboring base stations. For example, neighboring base stations may temporarily increase their signal strength to cover the area of ​​the affected station, thereby improving network coverage in that area.

[0067] The control unit may also coordinate with a supervisory device to perform a dynamic handover of users from the affected base station to neighboring stations before the capacity of the auxiliary power supply becomes critical, for example when the residual capacity obtained reaches a critical threshold.

[0068] The control unit may also control a supervisory device to reconfigure the network topology in real time to optimize coverage and capacity based on the availability of auxiliary power supply.

[0069] For this, when the control unit is integrated into a base station, it can communicate directly with neighboring base stations via interstation links (X2 interfaces in the case of LTE, for example) to coordinate emergency measures, such as load sharing or coverage adjustments.

[0070] Finally, the control unit may trigger an update of the service policies. For example, in the event of a prolonged outage, the control unit may command the implementation of modified service policies, such as prioritizing emergency calls or limiting certain types of non-essential traffic.

[0071] [Fig. 3] represents the architecture of a device 300 adapted to implement the management method, according to a particular embodiment. The device 300 is for example integrated into the control unit 107 shown in [Fig. 1].

[0072] The device 300 comprises a data processing module comprising a storage space 301, for example a memory (MEM), a processing unit 302, equipped for example with a microprocessor (PROC), and controlled by a computer program (PGR) 303 whose instructions are configured to implement the management method as described previously in relation to [Fig.2].

[0073] At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program 303 are by example loaded into the memory 301 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 302. The microprocessor of the processing unit 302 implements, according to the instructions of the computer program 303, the steps of the management method described above with reference to [Fig.2].

[0074] For this, in addition to the memory 301 and the processor 302, the device comprises communication means 304, allowing it to exchange messages with other devices. These communication means are for example an Ethernet, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc. network interface. The communication means 304 in particular allow the device 300 to exchange data with a base station via one or more communication networks in order to receive an indication relating to an energy source in use and / or a residual capacity of at least one auxiliary or emergency power supply.

[0075] The device also comprises a module 305 for determining an energy saving strategy. The module 305 is for example implemented by program instructions configured to obtain a residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of a base station received by the communication module 304 and to select a particular strategy from a set of strategies according to the residual capacity received and / or the type of power supply (main or auxiliary).

[0076] In a particular embodiment, the device is integrated into a computer server of a communications network.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network, comprising the following steps: - Receiving (200, 201) a message indicating at least one residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of the base station, and - Applying (202) a particular energy saving strategy at least as a function of the indicated residual capacity.

2. The method of claim 1 as comprising receiving a message comprising an indication relating to the type of power supply currently in use by the base station, the power saving strategy being adjusted according to the type of power supply.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, such that the energy saving strategy comprises defining several residual capacity thresholds, applying a strategy comprising a step of progressively deactivating the radio units of the base station when the residual capacity falls below the defined thresholds.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the phased-out radio units comprise 5G, 4G, and 3G units.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the residual capacity is below the lowest threshold, the strategy comprises keeping only one 2G radio unit in operation to provide minimum service.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is configured to receive forecast information on the duration of the outage of the main electricity network and to adjust the energy saving strategy according to the forecast duration of the outage.

7. Device for managing an auxiliary power supply in a base station of a mobile network, the device comprising a processor (302) coupled to a memory (301) in which are recorded program instructions (303) configured to implement the following steps: - Receiving a message indicating at least one residual capacity of an auxiliary power supply of the base station, and - Applying a particular energy saving strategy at least based on the indicated residual capacity.

8. Control unit comprising a management device according to claim 7.

9. Computer program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of the steps of a management method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when the program is executed by a processor.

10. A computer-readable information medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for executing the steps of a management method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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