Active Antenna Element Muting With Separation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in balancing increased network capacity with reduced energy consumption, particularly due to high power consumption by idle base stations and radio chains, and existing antenna element muting methods do not effectively minimize energy use without increasing interference.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining optimal antenna element separation based on priori information to mute antenna elements, maximizing system performance and reducing energy consumption by selecting appropriate element separations that consider deployment, interference, and user behavior patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If antenna elements are muted to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but system performance may deteriorate and interference may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameter (antenna element separation distance) when transitioning from active to muted state. By increasing the separation distance between remaining active antenna elements, the system maintains beamforming performance and reduces interference while allowing more elements to be muted, thus resolving the contradiction between energy savings and system performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the antenna element separation distance based on the muting pattern. When antenna elements are muted, the separation distance between active elements is increased to maintain optimal beamforming characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve energy savings without compromising performance
2Loss of energy
If more antenna elements are muted, then energy savings increase, but interference between remaining active elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameter (separation distance) of active antenna elements in response to muting. By increasing the separation distance, the harmful interference between remaining active elements is reduced, allowing more elements to be muted while maintaining acceptable interference levels
3Object-generated harmful factors
If antenna element separation is increased to reduce interference, then interference is reduced, but the number of muted elements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the antenna element separation distance based on the muting configuration. When more elements are muted, the separation distance is increased to maintain low interference levels, enabling the system to mute more elements while keeping interference under control
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed in a network node of a communication system for muting antenna elements of an active antenna system. The method comprises determining, based on a priori information relating to performance of the communication system, an antenna element separation between one or more pairs of active antenna elements of at least a subset of all active antenna elements of the active antenna system; and muting at least one antenna element such that the determined antenna element separation is obtained between each of the one or more pairs of active antenna elements of at least the subset of all active antenna elements.