Base Station Antenna Array Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication systems face inefficiencies in resource usage and increased power consumption when operating below capacity limits due to over-dimensioning for peak loads, leading to suboptimal performance during normal operations.
Innovation Solution
A base station arrangement with multiple antennas capable of switching between sectorised and non-sectorised modes based on current conditions, dynamically adjusting to provide individual or common broadcast carriers to optimize resource usage and power consumption according to loading thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sectorised cells with directional antennas are used to improve frequency reuse and network capacity, then system capacity and frequency reuse are improved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically switches between sectorised and non-sectorised modes based on current network conditions such as traffic load and interference levels. This allows the system to adapt its complexity and resource usage to actual needs, using sectorisation only when necessary for capacity optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different broadcast control carrier configurations - using individual broadcast control carriers for each sector when capacity is needed, and a common broadcast control carrier when capacity requirements are lower, thereby adjusting system behavior to match current conditions.
2Productivity
If frequency planning is optimized for capacity limit conditions, then system capacity is maximized, but performance during normal operation becomes suboptimal due to over-dimensioning
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on current traffic conditions. During peak load conditions, it operates in sectorised mode with individual broadcast control carriers to maximize capacity. During normal or low load conditions, it switches to non-sectorised mode with a common broadcast control carrier, reducing power consumption and resource usage while maintaining adequate performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by switching between different broadcast control carrier configurations based on load conditions. This allows the system to be dimensioned appropriately for current conditions rather than being permanently over-dimensioned for peak capacity, thereby reducing energy loss during normal operation.
3Reliability
If individual broadcast control carriers are provided to each antenna in sectorised mode, then multiple cells with reduced interference are supported, but resource usage and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically switches between providing individual broadcast control carriers to each antenna (sectorised mode) and providing a common broadcast control carrier to all antennas (non-sectorised mode). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to reduce power consumption and resource usage during conditions when strict interference separation is not critical, while maintaining reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by switching between different broadcast control carrier configurations. During low interference conditions or normal operation, it uses a common broadcast control carrier to reduce power consumption. During high interference conditions or capacity-critical scenarios, it switches to individual broadcast control carriers per antenna to maintain reliability and reduce interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station arrangement for a cellular communication system comprises a plurality of antennas (101-105) where each antenna (101-105) has a different coverage area. The base station arrangement can operate in a sectorised mode and a non-sectorised mode controlled by a mode controller (119). When in the sectorised mode, the base station arrangement provides an individual broadcast control carrier to each antenna (101-105) of the plurality of antennas (101-105) thereby supporting a plurality of cells each having a coverage area of the corresponding antenna (101-105). When in the non-sectorised mode, the base station arrangement provides a common broadcast carrier to all antennas (101-105) of the plurality of antennas (101-105) thereby supporting a single cell having a coverage area corresponding to a combined coverage area of the plurality of antennas (101-105). The invention may allow reduced power consumption at low loading without sacrificing peak capacity.