Communication apparatus and method

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication apparatus and method, which can improve the efficiency of adjusting operating modes of a radio unit. The apparatus comprises a radio unit and a distributed unit. The radio unit is used for sending candidate mode information, wherein the candidate mode information may indicate at least one operating mode of the radio unit and energy efficiency parameters of the radio unit in each operating mode. The distributed unit is used for sending mode switching information corresponding to the radio unit, wherein the mode switching information may indicate a target operating mode of the radio unit. The radio unit is used for switching the operating mode to the target operating mode. In this way, the distributed unit does not need to traverse operating modes of the radio unit, and can directly determine the current optimal target operating mode of the radio unit from among the operating modes on the basis of the energy efficiency parameters indicated by the candidate mode information, thereby mitigating the impact on communication services during the process of determining the target operating mode, and improving the efficiency of determining the operating modes.

Description

Communication devices and methods

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510382390.1, filed on March 28, 2025, entitled "Communication Apparatus and Method", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication device and method. Background Technology

[0003] To reduce the power consumption of communication devices, the operating mode of the radio unit (RU) can be adjusted through the distributed unit (DU) in the communication device, such as controlling the RU to enter a low-power operating mode, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the communication device.

[0004] As technology advances, the types of low-power operating modes for RUs (Remote Utility Units) are increasing. To ensure that the RU can enter a suitable operating mode, the DU (Digital Unit) typically needs to monitor the RU's energy consumption information and switch the RU to different operating modes. By traversing the energy consumption changes of the RU under different operating modes, the optimal operating mode of the RU is determined. The entire mode adjustment process is time-consuming, and the traversal and switching of operating modes also affects the performance of the communication device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication device and method that can improve the efficiency of adjusting the operating mode of a radio frequency unit.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication device, which includes a radio frequency unit and a distributed unit.

[0008] The radio frequency unit is used to transmit candidate mode information, which indicates at least one operating mode of the radio frequency unit and the energy efficiency parameter of the radio frequency unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameter indicates the impact of the operating mode on the operating energy consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit.

[0009] The distributed unit is used to transmit mode switching information corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and is used to indicate the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit.

[0010] The radio frequency unit is also used to switch the operating mode to the target operating mode.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the radio frequency unit sends candidate mode information so that the distributed unit can determine the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit based on the operating mode of the radio frequency unit and the performance parameters of the radio frequency unit in each operating mode. This balances the impact of the determined target operating mode on the performance of the radio frequency unit, thereby improving the accuracy of the determined target operating mode. Furthermore, the determination of the target operating mode does not require frequent deduction of each operating mode, thus improving the efficiency of the determination of the target operating mode while reducing the damage to service performance.

[0012] In some implementations, the energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameter is used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameter is used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

[0013] Optionally, the gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, which the RF unit uses to determine energy consumption gain based on the RF unit's service load status and environmental status. The service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the RF unit's ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature.

[0014] Optionally, the gain parameter includes power consumption gain, and the power consumption gain corresponding to any operating mode in at least one operating mode is determined based on the power consumption of the RF unit in any operating mode and the power consumption threshold.

[0015] Optionally, the loss parameter includes performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the RF unit.

[0016] Optionally, performance degradation includes at least one of the following: signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, the impact of different operating modes on the energy efficiency of the RF unit is evaluated by assessing energy consumption gains and performance losses. This allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of operating modes on the RF unit, thereby enabling the determination of the target operating mode from multiple perspectives and improving the accuracy of the distributed unit in determining the target operating mode.

[0018] In some implementations, the distributed unit is used to obtain the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit, and the target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0019] Based on the above technical solution, by introducing cell load, it is ensured that the determined target working mode can meet the current load requirements, avoid the impact of working mode adjustment on cell communication services, and improve the accuracy of the target working mode.

[0020] In some implementations, the distributed unit is also used to obtain the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is used to indicate the cell load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and candidate mode information.

[0021] Based on the above technical solution, by introducing a reference load, the operating mode of the radio frequency unit can be adjusted in a timely manner based on the service load status of neighboring cells. This allows for timely adjustment of the operating mode of the radio frequency unit when the service load may change, thus avoiding any impact on communication services and improving the flexibility of controlling the operating mode of the radio frequency unit.

[0022] In some implementations, mode switching information is also used to indicate a target time period for the target operating mode. The radio frequency (RF) unit operates in the target operating mode during the target time period. By controlling the start and end times of the target operating mode through the target time period, flexible switching of the RF unit's operating mode can be achieved.

[0023] In some implementations, the communication device further includes a processing unit. The distributed unit is used to send candidate mode information; the processing unit is used to send mode switching information based on the candidate mode information; and the distributed unit is used to receive the mode switching information sent by the processing unit. By using the processing unit to determine the mode switching information, the performance requirements on the distributed unit are reduced.

[0024] Secondly, this application provides a communication device for acquiring and transmitting cell load.

[0025] In some implementations, the communication device is used to acquire cell load; and in the event of abnormal cell load, to transmit cell load.

[0026] Thirdly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a radio frequency unit in the communication device of the first aspect, or by components of the radio frequency unit (such as circuits, chips, chip systems or processors), or by a logic node, logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the radio frequency unit.

[0027] The method includes: receiving candidate mode information and sending mode switching information.

[0028] The candidate mode information indicates at least one operating mode of the RF unit, and the energy efficiency parameters of the RF unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameters indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating power consumption and / or operating efficiency of the RF unit. The mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and indicates the target operating mode of the RF unit.

[0029] In some implementations, the energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameter is used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameter is used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

[0030] Optionally, the gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the method further includes: determining energy consumption gain based on the service load status and environmental status of the radio frequency unit, wherein the service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature of the radio frequency unit.

[0031] Optionally, the gain parameter includes power consumption gain, and the power consumption gain corresponding to any operating mode in at least one operating mode is determined based on the power consumption of the RF unit in any operating mode and the power consumption threshold.

[0032] Optionally, the loss parameter includes performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the RF unit.

[0033] Optionally, performance degradation includes at least one of the following: signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss.

[0034] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0035] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0036] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is the cell load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit, and the target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and candidate mode information.

[0037] In some implementations, mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period for the target working mode.

[0038] In some implementations, the method also includes: sending candidate mode information; receiving mode switching information sent by the processing unit.

[0039] Fourthly, this application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a distributed unit in the communication device of the first aspect described above, or by components of the distributed unit (such as circuits, chips, chip systems, or processors), or by a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the distributed unit. The method includes:

[0040] Receive candidate mode information and send mode switching information.

[0041] The candidate mode information indicates at least one operating mode of the RF unit, and the energy efficiency parameters of the RF unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameters indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating power consumption and / or operating efficiency of the RF unit. The mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and indicates the target operating mode of the RF unit.

[0042] In some implementations, the energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameter is used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameter is used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

[0043] Optionally, the gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, which is determined based on the service load status and environmental status of the RF unit. The service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature of the RF unit.

[0044] Optionally, the gain parameter includes power consumption gain, and the power consumption gain corresponding to any operating mode in at least one operating mode is determined based on the power consumption of the RF unit in any operating mode and the power consumption threshold.

[0045] Optionally, the loss parameter includes performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the RF unit.

[0046] Optionally, performance degradation includes at least one of the following: signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss.

[0047] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0048] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0049] In some implementations, the method further includes: obtaining the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is the cell load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit, and the target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and candidate mode information.

[0050] In some implementations, mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period for the target working mode.

[0051] In some implementations, the method also includes: sending candidate mode information; receiving mode switching information sent by the processing unit.

[0052] Fifthly, this application provides a communication method, which can be executed by the communication device described in the second aspect, or by components of the communication device described in the second aspect (such as circuits, chips, chip systems, or processors), and can also be a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device described in the second aspect. The method includes:

[0053] Get and send the cell payload.

[0054] In some implementations, the cell load can be obtained, and the cell load can be sent when the cell load is abnormal.

[0055] Sixthly, this application provides a base station, which may include the communication device described in the first aspect or any implementation thereof, or the communication device described in the second aspect.

[0056] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device including a processor for implementing the methods described in the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0057] Optionally, the communication device further includes an interface circuit for receiving signals from other communication devices and transmitting them to the processor, or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices.

[0058] Eighthly, this application provides a communication device including a processor for implementing the methods as described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0059] Optionally, the communication device further includes an interface circuit for receiving signals from other communication devices and transmitting them to the processor, or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices.

[0060] Ninthly, this application provides a communication device including a processor for implementing the methods as described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0061] Optionally, the communication device further includes an interface circuit for receiving signals from other communication devices and transmitting them to the processor, or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices.

[0062] Tenthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the methods in the third, fourth, or fifth aspects, and any implementation thereof, are performed.

[0063] In one aspect, this application provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed, causes the methods in the third, fourth, or fifth aspects, and any implementation thereof, to be performed.

[0064] The solutions provided in the third to eleventh aspects above are used to implement or cooperate with the methods provided in the first or second aspects above, and therefore can achieve the same or corresponding beneficial effects as the first or second aspects, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description

[0065] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0066] Figure 2 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0067] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0068] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0069] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0070] In this article, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0071] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order of objects. For example, "first target object" and "second target object," etc., are used to distinguish different target objects, not to describe a specific order of target objects.

[0072] In the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0073] In the description of the embodiments in this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. For example, multiple processing units means two or more processing units; multiple systems means two or more systems.

[0074] In the various method embodiments of this application, the order of the sequence numbers does not imply the order of execution. The execution order should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0075] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "under the circumstances," "if," "when," and "if..." can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, these descriptions all refer to the corresponding processing that will be carried out under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time, nor do they require any judgment action during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0076] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application can be implemented independently in certain scenarios without relying on other features, such as the current solution on which they are based, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. Alternatively, they can be combined with other features as needed in certain scenarios. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of this application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be elaborated here.

[0077] In this application, "sending" and "receiving" refer to the direction of signal transmission. In this application, entity A sends information to entity B, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Similarly, entity B receives information from entity A, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Entities A and B can be radio access network (RAN) nodes or terminals, or modules within RAN nodes or terminals. Information sending and receiving can be information exchange between RAN nodes and terminals, such as between a base station and a terminal; it can also be information exchange between two RAN nodes, such as between a CU and a DU; or it can be information exchange between different modules within a device, such as between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or between a base station chip and other modules of the base station. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, such as a baseband chip outputting information to a radio frequency chip, and "receiving" can be understood as the "input" of a chip interface.

[0078] For example, "sending information to...(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and may include sending information directly or indirectly to the terminal. "Receiving information from...(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and may include receiving information directly or indirectly from the terminal. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0079] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, and in the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments and between the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referenced. The technical features in different embodiments and the various implementation methods / methods / implementations within each embodiment can be combined according to their inherent logical relationships to form new embodiments, implementation methods, methods, or implementation approaches. The embodiments of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0080] In this application, "for indicating" can include both direct and indirect indication. When describing an indication information as indicating A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0081] In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementation, there are many ways to instruct the information to be instructed. For example, it can be implemented through direct instruction, such as through the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also be implemented indirectly by instructing other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed. Alternatively, only a part of the information to be instructed can be indicated, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent.

[0082] The information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information messages, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be the same or different. This application does not limit the specific sending method. The sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be predefined, for example, according to a protocol, or configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0083] The embodiments of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless local area network (WLAN), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (EDGE), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), time division-synchronization code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), long term evolution (LTE), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), satellite communication systems, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, or future communication network systems, etc.

[0084] The network elements involved in the embodiments of this application may include network devices, terminal devices, relay devices, and other communication devices containing signal transmission modules and receiving modules, such as transmitting network elements and receiving network elements.

[0085] The terminal device involved in this application embodiment is a user-side entity used to receive or transmit signals. It is used to send uplink signals to network devices, receive downlink signals from network devices, send signals to another terminal device, receive signals from another terminal device, or receive echo signals of its own transmitted signals. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, virtual reality terminal device, augmented reality terminal device, wearable device, vehicle-mounted device, wireless terminal in industrial control, or a mobile object with communication capabilities such as a vehicle or drone, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, modem, or chip system) built into the aforementioned devices. The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), user terminal, user device, user unit, user station, terminal, access terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, mobile device, or wireless communication device, etc. A terminal device is a user-side device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and can be a fixed device, mobile device, handheld device (e.g., mobile phone), wearable device, vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, modem, or chip system) built into the aforementioned devices. Terminal devices are used to connect people, things, and machines, and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as: cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), VR, augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, drones, robots, etc. For example, terminal devices can be handheld terminals in cellular communication, communication devices in D2D, IoT devices in MTC, surveillance cameras in smart transportation and smart cities, or communication devices on drones, etc.

[0086] In this embodiment, the communication device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device (e.g., a chip system) that supports the terminal device in implementing these functions. This device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In this embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete components.

[0087] The network devices involved in this application embodiment are used to receive uplink signals from terminal devices, send downlink signals to terminal devices, or receive echo signals of signals sent by themselves. The network devices can be nodes in a radio access network, also known as base stations or RAN nodes (or devices). The network devices can be evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE; next-generation node B (gNB) in 5G networks; base stations in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs); broadband network gateways (BNGs); aggregation switches; or non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) access devices, etc. Optionally, the network equipment in this application embodiment may include various forms of base stations, such as: relay stations, access points, equipment that implements base station functions in communication systems evolved after 5G, mobile switching centers, home evolved NodeBs (HNBs), baseband units (BBUs), equipment that performs base station functions in D2D, access points (APs), wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, transmission points (TPs), or transmission and reception points (TRPs) in WIFI systems, equipment that performs base station functions in V2X and M2M communications, etc. It may also include centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs) in cloud radio access networks (C-RAN) systems, and network equipment in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems, that is, it may be deployed on high-altitude platforms or satellites. It can also be a gNB or transmission point in NR, one or a group (including multiple) of antenna panels of a base station in NR, or it can be a network node constituting a gNB or transmission point. Alternatively, the network device can also be a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, or a network device in a future communication network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, or a network device deployed on a satellite. This application embodiment does not limit this.Furthermore, based on the size of the service coverage area provided, base stations can be divided into macro base stations for providing macro cells, micro base stations for providing pico cells, and femto base stations for providing femto cells. As wireless communication technology continues to evolve, future base stations may also adopt other names.

[0088] Network equipment comes in a wide variety of forms. For example, in product implementation, the BBU can be integrated with a radio frequency unit (RFU) within the same device, which is connected to the antenna array via cables (e.g., but not limited to feeders). Alternatively, the BBU can be separate from the RFU, connected via fiber optic cable, and communicate using, for example, but not limited to, the Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol. In this case, the RFU is typically called a remote radio unit (RRU), which is connected to the antenna array via cables. Furthermore, the RRU can also be integrated with the antenna array; for example, this structure is used in active antenna unit (AAU) products.

[0089] Furthermore, the BBU can be further decomposed into multiple parts. For example, the BBU can be further subdivided into CU and DU based on the real-time nature of the services it handles. The CU is responsible for handling non-real-time protocols and services, while the DU is responsible for handling physical layer protocols and real-time services. Moreover, some physical layer functions can be separated from the BBU or DU and integrated into the AAU.

[0090] In another possible scenario, multiple network devices collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with each network device performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, network devices can be CUs, DUs, CUs (control plane, CP), CUs (user plane, UP), or radio units (RUs). CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as RRUs, AAUs, or remote radio heads (RRHs). It is understood that network devices can be CU nodes, DU nodes, or devices comprising both CU and DU nodes. Furthermore, CUs can be classified as network devices in the access network (RAN) or in the core network (CN); this is not a limitation.

[0091] In different communication systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0092] Network devices can communicate and interact with core network devices to provide communication services to terminal devices. Core network devices, for example, are those in the core network of a 5G network. As a bearer network, the core network provides an interface to the data network, offering terminals communication connectivity, authentication, management, policy control, and the ability to carry data services.

[0093] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device itself; or it can be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device.

[0094] With the rapid development of communication technology, the number of base stations deployed in networks is increasing to meet the growing communication service demands of users. To reduce base station power consumption, energy control has gradually become an important direction in the evolution of base station technology.

[0095] For example, for radio frequency (RF) units that account for a high proportion of power consumption in a base station, the operating mode of the RF unit can be adjusted, such as switching to a low-power operating mode, thereby reducing the base station's operating power consumption. With the evolution of energy consumption control, the types of low-power operating modes (also known as energy-saving types) for RF units are increasing, including carrier shutdown mode, static channel shutdown mode, symbol-level / timeslot-level dynamic channel shutdown, deep sleep, and extreme sleep modes. Different modes produce different energy-saving benefits and have different impacts on communication services. Even within the same mode, the impact on different communication services can vary.

[0096] For example, in the channel shutdown mode, since it takes a certain amount of time to wake up the radio frequency unit, the impact of this mode on services with low latency requirements is much greater than its impact on services with high latency requirements.

[0097] In some scenarios, such as when the distributed unit and the radio frequency (RF) unit are manufactured by different manufacturers, the distributed unit usually needs to measure the operating parameters of the RF unit in real time to determine the power consumption information of the RF unit. Then, by iterating through the power consumption of the RF unit in different operating modes, i.e., continuously adjusting the operating mode of the RF unit, the optimal energy-saving mode of the RF unit under the current business load condition can be determined, so as to achieve a balance between the energy consumption benefits of the RF unit and the business losses.

[0098] In this scenario, determining the optimal power-saving mode for the RF unit requires a significant amount of time due to the iterative process of traversing operating modes. Furthermore, continuously adjusting the RF unit's operating mode can negatively impact its communication performance. Additionally, short-term measurements during the iterative process may not reflect the long-term impact of the RF unit on communication services, leading to inaccurate determination of the power-saving mode.

[0099] Furthermore, in some scenarios, after the RF unit enters certain energy-saving modes, it may be unable to switch to other energy-saving modes to continue traversing. For example, when the RF unit enters certain deep energy-saving modes, the communication link with the distributed unit may be interrupted, causing the distributed unit to be unable to continue sending control information to the RF unit, which seriously affects the accuracy of the RF unit's mode switching control.

[0100] Based on this, this application proposes a communication device that transmits candidate mode information through a radio frequency unit. A distributed unit determines the impact of different operating modes on the operating energy consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit based on the energy efficiency parameters corresponding to different operating modes in the candidate mode information, thereby accurately determining the current optimal operating mode of the radio frequency unit and improving the accuracy of operating mode determination.

[0101] Figure 1 shows a schematic architecture diagram of a communication device 10 provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 20 can be the network device described above. The device may include a radio frequency unit 11 and a distributed unit 12. The radio frequency unit 11 and the distributed unit 12 can be connected by wired connection or wireless communication connection, which can be flexibly configured according to actual usage requirements.

[0102] The radio frequency unit 11 is used to transmit candidate mode information. This candidate mode information can be used to indicate at least one operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11, and the energy efficiency parameters of the radio frequency unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameters are used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating power consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit.

[0103] Optionally, the radio frequency unit 11 can transmit candidate mode information when powered on.

[0104] Considering that the candidate mode information of the radio frequency unit 11 is usually related to the type of the radio frequency unit 11, that is, when the type of the radio frequency unit 11 is determined, the candidate mode information of the radio frequency unit 11 is usually fixed, the radio frequency unit 11 can send the candidate mode information only once each time it is powered on.

[0105] Optionally, the radio frequency unit 11 can also retransmit the candidate mode information if the candidate mode information changes.

[0106] Considering that the candidate mode information of RF unit 11 may change under the circumstances of upgrade and optimization, such as RF unit 11 supporting more operating modes or reducing power consumption under the same operating mode, RF unit 11 can also retransmit the candidate mode information to improve the accuracy of the candidate mode information if the candidate mode information changes.

[0107] The distributed unit 12 is used to transmit mode switching information corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. This mode switching information is determined based on candidate mode information and is used to indicate the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11.

[0108] The radio frequency unit 11 is also used to switch the operating mode to the target operating mode.

[0109] Optionally, the distributed unit 12 may periodically send mode switching information to periodically switch the operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11.

[0110] For example, the target operating mode can be an energy-saving mode. The distributed unit 12 can send mode switching information at 22:00 every day so that the radio frequency unit 11 can periodically switch the target operating state, such as switching to the energy-saving state when the cell communication traffic is low, thereby saving power consumption.

[0111] In some embodiments, the mode switching information sent by the distributed unit 12 may also include a target time period for the target operating mode, and the radio frequency unit 11 may operate in the target operating mode within the target time period indicated by the mode switching information.

[0112] For example, the target operating mode can be an energy-saving mode, and the target time period can be from 10 PM to 4 AM the next day. The distributed unit 12 can send mode switching information at 10 PM every day, and the radio frequency unit 11 can switch the operating mode to energy-saving mode from 10 PM to 4 AM the next day, thereby switching to energy-saving mode during non-user active periods.

[0113] Optionally, the radio frequency unit 11 can also adjust the operating mode back to the previous operating mode during non-target time periods to improve the flexibility of operating mode switching.

[0114] Optionally, the target time period can be manually calibrated by experts or determined by the distributed unit based on the cell load status simulation. For example, the optimal time period for the target working mode can be determined based on the historical load status of the cell, and the optimal time period can be determined as the target time period.

[0115] Optionally, at least one operating mode indicated by the candidate mode information can be understood as an operating mode supported by the radio frequency unit 11, that is, an operating mode that the radio frequency unit 11 can switch to.

[0116] In some embodiments, the type of RF unit 11 may vary, and the operating modes that the RF unit 11 can switch to may also change. Therefore, the RF unit 11 can send candidate mode information to indicate the operating modes it supports, thereby ensuring that the target operating mode indicated by the mode switching information sent by the distributed unit 12 is the operating mode supported by the RF unit 11.

[0117] Optionally, the type of operating mode indicated by the candidate mode information and the type of energy efficiency parameters can be flexibly selected according to different application scenarios. Taking an energy consumption control scenario as an example, the candidate mode information sent by the RF unit 11 can indicate the energy-saving mode supported by the RF unit 11, i.e., the aforementioned low-power operating mode. Taking a performance improvement scenario as an example, the candidate mode information sent by the RF unit 11 can indicate the high-performance mode supported by the RF unit 11.

[0118] The following uses an energy consumption control scenario, i.e. an energy-saving scenario, as an example to illustrate the working mode and energy efficiency parameters in the embodiments of this application.

[0119] In energy-saving scenarios, the candidate indication information sent by the radio frequency unit 11 can indicate at least one energy-saving mode and the energy efficiency parameters of the radio frequency unit 11 in each energy-saving mode.

[0120] The type of power-saving mode can be flexibly changed based on the actual application scenario and the type of RF unit 11. For example, the power-saving mode may include carrier shutdown, channel shutdown, deep sleep mode, etc.

[0121] In this scenario, the gain parameter corresponding to each power-saving mode can be used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit 11 brings to the RF unit 11, such as the gain parameter including energy consumption benefits. The loss parameter corresponding to each power-saving mode can be used to indicate the negative losses that the operating mode of the RF unit 11 brings to the RF unit 11, such as the loss parameter including performance losses.

[0122] Energy consumption gain can be understood as the energy consumption gain of the energy-saving mode compared to the normal working mode. For example, the performance loss corresponding to different energy-saving modes can be understood as the reduction in power consumption of the RF unit 11 under different energy-saving modes compared to the power consumption under the normal working mode. Performance loss can be understood as the service loss caused by the energy-saving mode compared to the normal working mode. For example, the performance loss corresponding to different energy-saving modes can be understood as the reduction in the working performance of the RF unit 11 under different energy-saving modes compared to the working performance under the normal working mode.

[0123] In some embodiments, the radio frequency unit 11 can determine its energy consumption benefits under different energy-saving modes based on its own workload status and / or environmental status.

[0124] The service load status and environmental status can be flexibly selected based on the actual application scenario. For example, the service load status may include parameters such as the resource block utilization rate and transmit power of the radio frequency unit 11, and the environmental status may include parameters such as the ambient temperature and hardware temperature of the radio frequency unit 11.

[0125] Optionally, the resource block utilization rate of radio frequency unit 11 can be understood as the resource block utilization rate of the air interface carrier of the cell corresponding to radio frequency unit 11.

[0126] For example, the radio frequency unit 11 can determine energy consumption benefits based on parameters such as service load status and environmental status, as well as a first relationship. This first relationship is used to indicate the mapping relationship between the service load status, environmental status, and energy consumption benefits of the radio frequency unit 11, and can take various forms such as a mapping relationship table or a mapping relationship function, which can be flexibly set according to actual usage requirements.

[0127] For example, the energy-saving mode includes a deep sleep mode. When the resource block utilization rate is 10%, the energy consumption benefit determined based on the first relationship can be 20W. Then, the radio frequency unit 11 can use 20W as the energy consumption benefit corresponding to the deep sleep mode.

[0128] In other embodiments, the radio frequency unit 11 can determine energy consumption benefits based on its own working energy consumption and energy consumption threshold in different working modes.

[0129] For example, the radio frequency unit 11 can obtain a second relationship, which can indicate the mapping relationship between the working mode and the working power consumption of the radio frequency unit 11; based on the second relationship, the working power consumption of the radio frequency unit 11 in different working modes is determined, and then the power consumption benefit is determined based on the working power consumption and the power consumption threshold.

[0130] Optionally, the second relationship can be flexibly set based on actual usage needs, through simulation experiment calibration, physical formula derivation, and relevant evaluation standards.

[0131] The loss parameter can also be determined based on the actual application scenario, such as the type of RF unit 11.

[0132] In some embodiments, the radio frequency unit 11 can determine the impact of each energy-saving mode on its own performance based on the operating mode of each energy-saving mode. This performance can be flexibly set according to actual usage requirements, such as including at least one parameter among the parameters of the radio frequency unit 11, such as signal transmission strength, data transmission delay, and physical layer throughput, thereby obtaining the impact of different energy-saving modes on these parameters, such as signal transmission strength loss (e.g., a reduction in transmission power capability), data transmission delay loss (e.g., an increase in service transmission and reception delay), and physical layer throughput loss (e.g., a reduction in physical layer processing throughput).

[0133] Alternatively, the radio frequency unit 11 may also determine a performance loss parameter based on different aspects of performance loss, and use the performance loss parameter as a performance deduction.

[0134] For example, the radio frequency unit 11 can determine a performance loss evaluation value based on the aforementioned parameters such as signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss, as well as the third relationship, and use this performance loss evaluation value as a performance deduction. The third relationship is used to indicate the mapping relationship between the performance loss parameters and the performance loss evaluation value of the radio frequency unit 11, and can be in various forms such as a mapping relationship table or a mapping relationship function, which can be flexibly set according to actual usage requirements.

[0135] For example, with a signal transmission strength loss of 5W, a data transmission delay loss of 3ms, and a physical layer throughput loss of 200Mbps, the performance loss evaluation value determined based on the third relationship is -30, and this performance loss evaluation value is taken as the performance depreciation.

[0136] Optionally, the third relationship can also be flexibly set based on actual usage needs, through simulation experiment calibration, physical formula derivation, and relevant evaluation standards.

[0137] In some embodiments, the candidate indication information of the radio frequency unit 11 may also include calibration values, such as the operating modes supported by the radio frequency unit 11 as determined by simulation experiments, and the changes in power consumption and performance under different operating modes compared to the normal operating mode (or the initial operating mode).

[0138] The distributed unit 12 can receive candidate mode information sent by the radio frequency unit 11, determine the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 based on the candidate mode information, and send mode switching information to indicate the target operating mode to the radio frequency unit 11.

[0139] In some embodiments, the method by which the distributed unit 12 determines the target working mode can be flexibly set. The embodiments of this application are further divided below in conjunction with different determination methods.

[0140] Scenario 1: Distributed unit 12 determines its own target working mode.

[0141] Optionally, the distributed unit 12 can obtain the load parameters corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. The load parameters are used to indicate the current service load requirements of the radio frequency unit 11. The distributed unit 12 can determine the target working mode based on the load parameters and candidate mode information.

[0142] This load parameter can be flexibly selected based on actual usage requirements. For example, this load parameter may include the cell load corresponding to RF unit 11, the reference load corresponding to RF unit 11, etc. The following section further subdivides scenario 1 based on different load parameters.

[0143] In scenario 1.1, the distributed unit 12 obtains the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and determines the target working mode of the radio frequency unit 11 based on the cell load and candidate mode information corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11.

[0144] In this way, the distributed unit 12 can determine the optimal operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 under the current cell load condition based on the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11 and the energy efficiency parameters of the radio frequency unit 11 in each operating mode, and determine the optimal operating mode as the target operating mode.

[0145] For example, when the cell load is high, that is, when the current service carrying capacity of the cell is large, the distributed unit 12 can determine the working mode with less impact on communication services from the candidate modes as the target working mode, generate mode switching information, and send the mode switching information to the radio frequency unit 11.

[0146] Optionally, the content of the cell load can also be flexibly selected based on actual usage needs.

[0147] For example, cell load may include parameters such as the number of cell users, data traffic, resource block utilization, channel utilization, call and session metrics, average latency and jitter, bit error rate and packet loss rate, and interference level.

[0148] The number of users in a cell can be determined based on the current number of active users and connected users in the cell. The number of active users can be understood as the number of users in the cell who are currently using network resources, and the number of connected users can be understood as the number of users in the cell who have established a connection but are not actively transmitting data.

[0149] Data traffic can be determined based on parameters such as uplink / downlink data volume and average throughput of a cell. Uplink / downlink data volume can be understood as the total amount of data transmitted uplink / downlink per unit time in the current cell; average throughput can be understood as the average data transmission rate of users in the current cell.

[0150] Resource block utilization can be understood as the proportion of physical resource blocks occupied in a community network.

[0151] Channel utilization can be determined based on parameters such as the control channel utilization and service channel utilization of a cell. The control channel utilization can be understood as the occupancy of the cell's control channels, and the service channel utilization can be understood as the occupancy of the cell's service channels.

[0152] Call and session metrics can be determined based on parameters such as the call setup success rate and call drop rate of a cell. The call setup success rate can be understood as the proportion of successfully established calls or sessions in a cell, and the call drop rate can be understood as the proportion of abnormal terminations of calls or sessions in a cell.

[0153] Average latency can be understood as the average time it takes for a data packet to be sent and received in a cell, while jitter can be understood as the range of variation in the average latency of a cell.

[0154] Bit error rate (BER) can be understood as the proportion of erroneous bits in the received signal within a cell. Packet loss rate (PSR) can be understood as the proportion of data packets lost during data transmission within a cell.

[0155] Interference levels can be determined based on parameters such as the cell's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR). SNR indicates the ratio of signal power to noise power, while SINR indicates the ratio of desired signal to noise.

[0156] In scenario 1.2, distributed unit 12 can obtain a reference load and, based on the reference load and candidate mode information, determine the target operating mode corresponding to radio frequency unit 11. This reference load refers to the cell load of neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to radio frequency unit 11.

[0157] In this way, the distributed unit 12 can determine the target operating mode based on the reference load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and adjust the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 in a timely manner to ensure the accuracy of the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11.

[0158] For example, when the reference load is high, that is, when the current service carrying capacity of the neighboring cell is large, the distributed unit 12 can determine the working mode with less impact on the communication service among the candidate modes as the target working mode, generate mode switching information, and send the mode switching information to the radio frequency unit 11.

[0159] Optionally, the reference load can also be the cell load of neighboring cells that are not in power-saving mode or are in shallow power-saving mode, which are adjacent cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. Entering shallow power-saving mode can be understood as a power-saving mode that will not have a significant impact on network performance or user experience, such as dynamic power adjustment mode, time slot shutdown mode, antenna silence mode, frequency selective shutdown mode, etc., to ensure that the reference load can accurately reflect the load status of neighboring cells.

[0160] Optionally, the antenna silence mode typically indicates that some antennas are silent in order to ensure that communication services can operate normally while reducing power consumption.

[0161] In some embodiments, the distributed unit 12 can obtain the reference load through the communication control device of the reference cell (such as the distributed unit of the reference cell). For example, the distributed unit 12 sends a load acquisition request to the communication control device of the reference cell, and the communication control device of the reference cell responds to the load acquisition request by sending the reference load to the distributed unit 12. Alternatively, the communication control device of the reference cell can also proactively report the reference load to the distributed unit 12 in the event of an abnormality in the reference load. Furthermore, the communication device of the reference cell can periodically send the reference load information of the reference cell to the distributed unit 12, so that the distributed unit 12 can obtain the reference load.

[0162] For example, as shown in FIG2, the communication control device of the reference cell can determine whether the cell load (i.e., reference load) of the reference cell is abnormal, and when the cell load is abnormal, it actively reports the cell load to the distributed unit 12, so that the distributed unit 12 can determine the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 based on the abnormal reference load and the candidate mode information of the radio frequency unit 11, and send mode switching information to the radio frequency unit 11. When the radio frequency unit 11 receives the mode switching information, it switches its operating mode to the target operating mode indicated by the mode switching information, thereby adjusting the operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 in a timely manner.

[0163] Optionally, the criteria for determining abnormal cell load can be flexibly selected.

[0164] For example, abnormal cell load can refer to a difference between the actual service load of a cell and a reference value that exceeds a load threshold. This reference value can include a predicted value, such as an estimated service load of the reference cell at the current time determined based on a prediction algorithm, or it can include historical statistical averages for the same period. The type of actual service load of the cell can be found in the above description of cell load, and will not be repeated here.

[0165] For example, abnormal cell load can also refer to a situation where the actual service load change rate of the cell exceeds a certain threshold. The type of actual service load in this cell can be found in the description of cell load mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0166] Optionally, in some scenarios, the communication control device corresponding to the reference cell may be the same device as the communication control device (i.e., the distributed unit 12) corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. In this scenario, the distributed unit 12 can directly adjust the working mode of the radio frequency unit 11 based on the cell load of the reference cell. The adjustment method is the same as the adjustment method in different device scenarios, and will not be described in detail here.

[0167] In scenario 1.3, the distributed unit 12 can also obtain the cell load and reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and determine the target working mode of the radio frequency unit 11 based on the cell load, reference load and candidate mode information.

[0168] In this way, the distributed unit 12 can comprehensively determine the cell load requirement corresponding to the current radio frequency unit 11 based on the cell load status of the radio frequency unit 11 itself and the cell load status of neighboring cells, and then determine the target working mode based on the candidate mode information and cell load requirement, thereby improving the accuracy of target mode determination.

[0169] For details regarding the cell load corresponding to RF unit 11 and the reference load corresponding to RF unit 11, please refer to the above descriptions of cell load and reference load, which will not be repeated here.

[0170] In some embodiments, the distributed unit 12 described above can also determine the target working mode through the deployed model.

[0171] For example, the distributed unit 12 may be deployed with a first model, which is used to determine a target operating mode based on the cell load and candidate mode information corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. The distributed unit 12 may determine the target operating mode based on the first model, the candidate mode information of the radio frequency unit 11, and the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and send mode switching information.

[0172] The first model can be trained using sample data, which may include the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 under different candidate mode information and different cell loads.

[0173] Optionally, the first model can also optimize the internal algorithm based on the cell load changes after the radio frequency unit 11 switches its operating mode, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the target operating mode.

[0174] As another example, the distributed unit 12 may be deployed with a second model, which is used to determine a target operating mode based on the reference load and candidate mode information corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11. The distributed unit 12 may determine the target operating mode based on the second model, the candidate mode information of the radio frequency unit 11, and the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and send mode switching information.

[0175] The second model can also be trained using sample data, which may include the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit 11 under different candidate mode information and different reference loads.

[0176] Optionally, the second model can also optimize the internal algorithm based on the cell load changes after the radio frequency unit 11 switches its operating mode, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the target operating mode.

[0177] Scenario 2: Distributed unit 12 determines the target working mode through interaction with other devices.

[0178] As shown in FIG3 in some embodiments, the communication device 10 may further include a processing unit 13, and the distributed unit 12 may determine the target working mode by interacting with the processing unit 13.

[0179] For example, the distributed unit 12 can send candidate mode information; the processing unit 13 can send mode switching information based on the candidate mode information; the distributed unit 12 can receive the mode switching information sent by the processing unit 13 to obtain the mode switching information.

[0180] Optionally, the processing unit 13 can be a wireless intelligent controller (RIC) or a network management system (NMS).

[0181] In some embodiments, the processing unit 13 may also be deployed outside the communication device 10, such as on the core network cloud.

[0182] For example, the communication device 10 can be a base station, and the processing unit 13 can be deployed on an edge cloud (such as a nearby edge data center) near the base station.

[0183] The method by which processing unit 13 determines mode switching information can be referred to the above-mentioned content on the determination of mode switching information by distributed unit 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0184] In some embodiments, the distributed unit 12 can flexibly determine the target working mode based on actual usage requirements.

[0185] For example, the distributed unit 12 can periodically acquire the cell load and / or reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, determine the target operating mode based on the cell load and / or reference load and candidate mode information, and send mode switching information.

[0186] For example, the distributed unit 12 can obtain the cell load and / or reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11 at 0:00 every day, determine the target working mode corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, and send mode switching information. The radio frequency unit 11 switches its own working mode to the target working mode based on the mode switching information.

[0187] For example, the reference load can be sent when the neighboring cell load is abnormal. The distributed unit 12 can periodically acquire the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit 11, determine the target operating mode based on the cell load and candidate mode information, and send mode switching information. Upon receiving the reference load, it can re-determine the target operating mode and send mode switching information again.

[0188] For example, distributed unit 12 can obtain the cell load corresponding to radio frequency unit 11 at 00:00 every day, determine the target operating mode of radio frequency unit 11 based on the cell load and candidate mode information, and send mode switching information; radio frequency unit 11 switches its own operating mode to the target operating mode based on the mode switching information. If a reference load is received at 2:00 on a certain day, distributed unit 12 re-determines the target operating mode based on the reference load and sends mode switching information; radio frequency unit 11 readjusts its own operating mode to the latest target operating mode based on the mode switching information.

[0189] Referring to Figure 1 and as shown in Figure 3, this application embodiment also provides a communication device 30, which can be a communication device corresponding to a reference cell.

[0190] The communication device 30 is used to acquire and transmit the cell load.

[0191] Optionally, the method by which the communication device 10 acquires and transmits the cell load can be flexibly configured.

[0192] In some embodiments, the communication device 30 may acquire and transmit the cell load in response to a load acquisition request sent by the communication device 10.

[0193] In other embodiments, the communication device 30 can acquire the cell load and transmit the cell load in the event of an abnormal cell load.

[0194] In some other embodiments, the communication device 30 may also periodically acquire and transmit cell load information.

[0195] Optionally, for a description of the cell load transmitted by the communication device 30, please refer to the above description of the reference load, which will not be repeated here.

[0196] Optionally, as shown in FIG3, the communication device 30 may include a radio frequency unit 31 and a distributed unit 32. The distributed unit 32 can obtain the cell load of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit 31 through interaction with the radio frequency unit 31, and send the cell load to the communication device 10.

[0197] This application embodiment also provides a communication method, which can be executed by the radio frequency unit 11 in the communication device 10, or by the components of the radio frequency unit 11 (such as circuits, chips, chip systems, or processors), or by a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the radio frequency unit 11. The method includes:

[0198] Send candidate mode information. Receive mode switching information and switch the operating mode to the target operating mode.

[0199] The candidate mode information indicates at least one operating mode of the RF unit, and the energy efficiency parameters of the RF unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameters indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating power consumption and / or operating efficiency of the RF unit. Mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and indicates the target operating mode of the RF unit.

[0200] In some embodiments, the energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters, wherein the gain parameter is used to indicate the positive benefit brought to the radio frequency unit by the operating mode of the radio frequency unit, and the loss parameter is used to indicate the negative loss brought to the radio frequency unit by the operating mode of the radio frequency unit.

[0201] Optionally, the gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the method further includes: determining energy consumption gain based on the service load status and environmental status of the radio frequency unit, wherein the service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature of the radio frequency unit.

[0202] Optionally, the gain parameter includes power consumption gain, and the power consumption gain corresponding to any operating mode in at least one operating mode is determined based on the power consumption of the RF unit in any operating mode and the power consumption threshold.

[0203] Optionally, the loss parameter includes performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the RF unit.

[0204] Optionally, performance degradation includes at least one of the following: signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss.

[0205] In some embodiments, the mode switching information is further used to indicate a target time period for the target working mode, and the method further includes: working in the target working mode during the target time period.

[0206] For details regarding the above method, please refer to the relevant description of the steps performed by the radio frequency unit in the above system embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0207] This application embodiment also provides a communication method, which can be executed by the distributed unit 12 in the aforementioned communication device 10, or by the components of the distributed unit 12 (such as circuits, chips, chip systems, or processors), or by a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the distributed unit 12. The method includes:

[0208] Receive candidate mode information and send mode switching information.

[0209] The candidate mode information indicates at least one operating mode of the RF unit, and the energy efficiency parameters of the RF unit in each of the at least one operating mode. The energy efficiency parameters indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating power consumption and / or operating efficiency of the RF unit. The mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and indicates the target operating mode of the RF unit.

[0210] In some embodiments, the energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters, wherein the gain parameter is used to indicate the positive benefit brought to the radio frequency unit by the operating mode of the radio frequency unit, and the loss parameter is used to indicate the negative loss brought to the radio frequency unit by the operating mode of the radio frequency unit.

[0211] In some embodiments, the method further includes: acquiring the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0212] In some embodiments, the method further includes: acquiring the cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and candidate mode information.

[0213] In some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining a reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is the cell load of neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit, and the target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and candidate mode information.

[0214] In some embodiments, mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period of the target working mode.

[0215] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending candidate mode information; and receiving mode switching information sent by the processing unit.

[0216] For details regarding the above method, please refer to the relevant description of the steps executed by the distributed unit in the above system embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] This application also provides a communication method, which can be executed by a communication device 30, or by components of the communication device 30 (such as circuits, chips, chip systems, or processors), or by logic nodes, logic modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device 30. The method includes:

[0218] Get and send the cell payload.

[0219] In some embodiments, cell load can be acquired and transmitted when cell load is abnormal.

[0220] For details regarding the above method, please refer to the relevant description of the steps performed by the communication device 30 in the above system embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0221] This application also provides a base station, which may include the above-described communication device 10 or communication device 30.

[0222] This application also provides a communication system, which may include the above-described communication device 10 and communication device 30.

[0223] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device 400 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 400 can be the aforementioned access point, central device, or site. The communication device 400 includes a processor 401, which implements the communication method provided in this embodiment of the application through logic circuits or executing code instructions. Optionally, the communication device 400 may further include an interface circuit 402. The processor 401 and the interface circuit 402 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 402 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0224] Optionally, the communication device 400 may further include a memory 403 for storing instructions executed by the processor 401, or storing input data required by the processor 401 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 401 executes instructions.

[0225] The aforementioned processor 401 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by software instructions. The aforementioned processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly embodied in the execution of a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory; the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0226] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for implementing the methods in the above-described method embodiments. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer can implement the methods in the above-described method embodiments.

[0227] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the methods in the above method embodiments to be executed.

[0228] This application also provides a chip, including a processor connected to a memory for storing computer programs, and the processor for executing the computer programs stored in the memory, so that the chip performs the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0229] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, for a technical feature, the technical features in that technical feature are distinguished by "first", "second" and "third", and there is no order of precedence or size among the technical features described by "first", "second" and "third".

[0230] Furthermore, the term "and / or" in this application is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. The term "at least one" in this application can represent "one" and "two or more." For example, A, B, and C can represent: A existing alone, B existing alone, C existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, A and C existing simultaneously, C and B existing simultaneously, and A, B, and C existing simultaneously.

[0231] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0232] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0233] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0234] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0235] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0236] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes: A radio frequency unit is used to transmit candidate mode information, the candidate mode information being used to indicate at least one operating mode of the radio frequency unit, and an energy efficiency parameter of the radio frequency unit in each of the at least one operating mode, the energy efficiency parameter being used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating energy consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit. A distributed unit is used to send mode switching information corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The mode switching information is determined based on the candidate mode information and is used to indicate the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit. The radio frequency unit is also used to switch the operating mode to the target operating mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameters are used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameters are used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the radio frequency unit is used for: The energy consumption benefit is determined based on the service load status and environmental status of the radio frequency unit, wherein the service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature of the radio frequency unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the energy consumption gain corresponding to any one of the at least one operating modes is determined based on the energy consumption and energy consumption threshold of the radio frequency unit in that operating mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The loss parameter includes a performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the radio frequency unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The performance degradation includes at least one of the following: signal transmission strength loss, data transmission delay loss, and physical layer throughput loss.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The distributed unit is used for: The cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit is obtained, and the target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and the candidate mode information.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The distributed unit is also used for: Obtain the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is used to indicate the cell load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and the candidate mode information.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period of the target working mode; The radio frequency unit is used to operate in the target operating mode during the target time period.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication device further includes a processing unit; The distributed unit is used to send the candidate pattern information; The processing unit is used to send the mode switching information based on the candidate mode information; The distributed unit is used to receive the mode switching information sent by the processing unit.

11. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device is used to acquire and transmit cell load.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The communication device is used for: Obtain the cell load; In the event of abnormal cell load, the cell load is transmitted.

13. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a radio frequency unit, the method includes: Send candidate mode information, which is used to indicate at least one operating mode of the radio frequency unit and the energy efficiency parameter of the radio frequency unit in each of the at least one operating mode, the energy efficiency parameter being used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating energy consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit. Receive mode switching information, which is determined based on the candidate mode information and is used to indicate the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit; Switch the working mode to the target working mode.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameters are used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameters are used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the method further includes: The energy consumption benefit is determined based on the service load status and environmental status of the radio frequency unit, wherein the service load status includes resource block utilization and / or transmit power, and the environmental status includes the ambient temperature and / or hardware temperature of the radio frequency unit.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The gain parameter includes energy consumption gain, and the energy consumption gain corresponding to any one of the at least one operating modes is determined based on the energy consumption and energy consumption threshold of the radio frequency unit in that operating mode.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The loss parameter includes a performance loss, which is used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating performance of the radio frequency unit.

18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period of the target working mode, and the method further includes: Work in the target working mode during the target time period.

19. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a distributed unit, the method includes: Receive candidate mode information, the candidate mode information being used to indicate at least one operating mode of the radio frequency unit, and energy efficiency parameters of the radio frequency unit in each of the at least one operating mode, the energy efficiency parameters being used to indicate the impact of the operating mode on the operating energy consumption and / or operating efficiency of the radio frequency unit. Send mode switching information, which is determined based on the candidate mode information and is used to indicate the target operating mode of the radio frequency unit.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The energy efficiency parameters include gain parameters and / or loss parameters. The gain parameters are used to indicate the positive benefits that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit, and the loss parameters are used to indicate the negative loss that the operating mode of the RF unit brings to the RF unit.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: The cell load corresponding to the radio frequency unit is obtained, and the target operating mode is determined based on the cell load and the candidate mode information.

22. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the reference load corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The reference load is used to indicate the cell load of the neighboring cells of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit. The target operating mode is determined based on the reference load and the candidate mode information.

23. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The mode switching information is also used to indicate the target time period of the target working mode.

24. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the candidate mode information; The mode switching information sent by the receiving processing unit.

25. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a communication device, the method includes: Get and send the cell payload.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The acquisition and transmission of cell payload includes: Obtain the cell load; In the event of abnormal cell load, the cell load is transmitted.

27. A base station, characterized in that, It includes the communication device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10 or the communication device as described in claim 11 or 12.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, include: The computer-readable medium stores a computer program; When the computer program is executed by the processor, the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 18, the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 24, or the method as described in claim 25 or 26 is performed.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes a computer program that, when executed, causes the method of any one of claims 13 to 18, the method of any one of claims 19 to 24, or the method of claim 25 or 26 to be performed.

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