Access Node Dormancy Coordination for Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access networks face challenges in reducing power consumption at access nodes while maintaining high service levels for communication devices, with existing methods not effectively addressing the need for efficient energy savings and timely activation of base stations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine when a first access node is dormant and control a radio transmitter to send a signal via a random access channel, using predefined preamble sequences or priority levels to alert another access node to switch from a dormant state to an active state, allowing for coordinated dormancy patterns and efficient energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If access nodes are switched to dormant mode to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but service response time increases when activation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring dormant access nodes with essential information (cell ID, frequency, bandwidth, MBSFN configuration) before entering dormant mode. This allows the nodes to quickly activate and provide service without full initialization delays, thus reducing the time loss while maintaining energy savings.
Solution Approach 2:
A serving access node acts as an intermediary between communication devices and dormant access nodes. The serving node receives service requests, determines target dormant nodes, and triggers their activation by transmitting wake-up signals containing necessary configuration information, enabling fast service restoration without direct device-node interaction delays.
2Reliability
If access nodes remain in active state to ensure immediate service, then service quality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic state transitions for access nodes between active and dormant modes based on real-time service demands. Nodes can switch states flexibly, maintaining high service quality during peak demand while conserving energy during low-activity periods, thus achieving both reliability and energy efficiency through adaptive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where communication devices provide service requests and the serving access node monitors the status and performance of dormant nodes. This feedback loop enables intelligent decision-making about when to activate dormant nodes, ensuring service quality requirements are met while minimizing unnecessary activations that would increase power consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple access nodes are activated simultaneously, then service coverage is expanded, but energy consumption and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the service coverage area and assigns different dormant access nodes to different geographic or logical service regions. When activation is needed, only the specific segment requiring service is activated rather than all nodes simultaneously, thus expanding coverage locally while minimizing overall energy consumption and interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by activating access nodes with specific characteristics (frequency, bandwidth, MBSFN configuration) tailored to local service requirements. Each dormant node contains pre-configured parameters optimized for its specific coverage area, allowing targeted activation that expands service coverage efficiently without the interference and energy waste of universal activation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique comprising: determining that a first access node serving a communication device is currently in a dormant, first state in which said first access node is not receiving radio transmissions; and controlling a radio transmitter or radio transceiver at said communication device to transmit a radio signal that triggers at least one second access node to alert said first access node of a request for said first access node to switch from said first state to a second state in which said first access node receives radio transmissions.