Antenna System MIMO Order and Beamforming Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive Antenna Systems (AAS) face challenges in high power consumption and capital expenditure due to high-order MIMO technologies, especially in interference or capacity-limited network environments, where switching off cells to save energy can create coverage holes, particularly in urban areas with continuous high traffic demand.
Innovation Solution
A method to dynamically adjust MIMO order and beam-forming transmission power based on capacity and coverage performance indicators, using self-organizing network capabilities to optimize power, coverage, and capacity, allowing for mode selection between MIMO and beam-forming modes, and adjusting transmission power collaboratively between neighboring cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-order MIMO technologies are implemented to increase network capacity, then system capacity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between MIMO and beam-forming modes based on real-time network conditions. The system adjusts the operational mode of antenna elements according to traffic load, capacity requirements, and coverage needs, allowing the network to optimize between capacity and power consumption dynamically rather than operating in a fixed high-power state
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different MIMO orders (e.g., 4x4, 8x8) and beam-forming configurations. By adjusting these parameters based on network conditions, the system can reduce power consumption during low-traffic periods while maintaining high capacity when needed, and switch off cells when neither mode is required
2Use of energy by moving object
If cells are switched off to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but coverage holes are created
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of network conditions before switching cells off. By evaluating capacity and coverage performance indicators in advance, the system determines whether switching off a cell will create coverage holes, and takes preventive action by maintaining certain cells in operation or adjusting beam-forming parameters to compensate for potential coverage gaps
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from performance indicators to monitor network coverage and capacity continuously. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when coverage holes are forming and adjust operations accordingly, preventing reliability degradation while enabling power savings
3Reliability
If beam-forming is used to improve coverage, then coverage is improved, but interference increases in capacity-limited environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts beam-forming parameters such as beam width and direction based on network conditions. In capacity-limited environments, the system reduces beam-forming gain or widens beam width to lower interference, while in coverage-limited environments, it maintains or increases beam-forming effectiveness. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the trade-off between coverage and interference
4Productivity
If MIMO order is increased to handle high traffic load, then capacity is improved, but capital expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic configuration of MIMO order, switching between different antenna element configurations (e.g., 2x2, 4x4, 8x8 MIMO) based on traffic load. During low-traffic periods, the system uses lower MIMO orders to reduce complexity and power consumption, while switching to higher orders when traffic demand increases, thereby avoiding the need for permanently deployed high-complexity systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multi-functional antenna elements that can operate in multiple modes (MIMO, beam-forming, or switched off) using the same physical hardware. This universality allows a single antenna system to provide different levels of capacity and coverage depending on conditions, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for different operational scenarios
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (300) of controlling an antenna system in which performance indicators relating to capacity and coverage are used (320, 326, 340) to generate an instruction to adjust the order of MIMO provided by the antenna system (324, 338) and at least one of the level of beam forming and transmission power (330, 334, 340, 348). The instruction may not be followed in case a decision-making entity decides that it is not appropriate.