Base Station Carrier Transition for Low-Interruption Energy Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern cellular telecommunications networks face challenges in meeting energy efficiency targets without causing service interruptions or reducing maximum capacity and coverage, particularly during base station reconfigurations such as switching from MORAN to MOCN mode, which often results in poor or no service for users.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a neutral host controller that transfers users of a base station to a multi-carrier base station operated by another mobile network operator, allowing seamless reconfiguration without service interruption by using a transition scoring system to evaluate and select the least disruptive path for carrier transitions, such as switching to MOCN mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a base station enters energy saving mode or reconfigures (e.g., switching from MORAN to MOCN), then energy efficiency is improved, but user service continuity deteriorates due to service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying a suitable target base station before the source base station enters energy saving mode or reconfigures. The target base station is pre-configured and prepared to receive user equipment, ensuring that the handover can occur seamlessly without service interruption. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by having the receiving end ready before the disruption occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates the handover process between the source base station (entering energy saving mode) and the target base station. It manages the user equipment transfer, configuration updates, and service continuity, mediating the transition to ensure no service interruption occurs while enabling the energy saving operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If base station reconfiguration is performed (e.g., MORAN to MOCN switching), then network flexibility and operator cooperation are improved, but service quality deteriorates during the reconfiguration period
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies and prepares a target base station with appropriate configuration (MOCN or MORAN capabilities) before initiating the reconfiguration. This ensures that when the source base station switches modes, user equipment can immediately be transferred to a properly configured target, maintaining service quality throughout the transition and enabling network flexibility without service degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover process is designed to maintain continuous service throughout the reconfiguration. User equipment remains connected during the transition, with the network controller managing the transfer to ensure uninterrupted service. This continuity approach allows network flexibility changes while preventing service quality deterioration.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If base station enters energy saving mode, then energy consumption is reduced, but network capacity and coverage are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the coverage and capacity of the energy-saving base station with that of the target base station. When the source base station enters energy saving mode, its user equipment is transferred to the target base station, which then handles the combined load. This merging ensures that network capacity is maintained through the target base station while the source base station consumes less energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The target base station is pre-identified and prepared to assume the additional load from the source base station before the energy saving mode activation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the target base station has sufficient capacity and resources to handle the transferred user equipment, maintaining overall network capacity while enabling energy savings at the source base station.
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention provides a method in a cellular telecommunications network, wherein the cellular telecommunications network includes a first transceiver providing a first access connection in a first spectrum range, and a second transceiver providing a second access connection in a second spectrum range, the method comprising the steps of: determining that a trigger condition for reconfiguring the second transceiver has been met; and, in response, evaluating a plurality of candidate transition options, wherein each transition option includes the steps of: a) transferring users from the second spectrum range to the first access connection, and b) following step a), reconfiguring the second transceiver, wherein the evaluation is based on a user impact of the transition; selecting a transition option based on the evaluation; causing the transfer of users from the second spectrum range according to the selected transition option; and causing the reconfiguration of the second transceiver according to the selected transition option.