Base Station Coverage Overlap Mapping for Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The extent of coverage overlap between wireless base stations in proximity is typically unknown, which hinders effective decision-making during network optimization, troubleshooting, and resource allocation, such as determining whether to power off stations during low utilization times or installing new stations.
Innovation Solution
A computing system determines the coverage area overlap (CAO) for each base station by analyzing antenna configurations and mobile device locations, generating a CAO structure that identifies overlap quantities and overlapping base stations, enabling visualization and strategic management of coverage areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If base stations are installed in close proximity to provide coverage, then coverage area is improved, but coverage area overlap occurs which increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring coverage area overlap between base stations and using this information to dynamically adjust base station operations. The computing system calculates overlap quantities and uses this feedback to determine when to power off underutilized stations, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state parameter of base stations (power on/off) based on calculated coverage overlap quantities. When overlap exceeds certain thresholds, the system changes the power state of selected base stations from active to inactive, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining coverage requirements.
2Loss of energy
If base stations are powered off during low utilization times to reduce energy costs, then energy efficiency is improved, but coverage may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from coverage overlap calculations to make informed decisions about base station power states. By continuously monitoring overlap quantities and using this information to adjust power states, the system ensures that coverage reliability is maintained even when base stations are powered off during low utilization periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of coverage overlap quantities before making power state decisions. This preliminary analysis ensures that when base stations are powered off, adequate coverage is still provided by neighboring stations, thereby maintaining coverage reliability while improving energy efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If new base stations are installed to cover uncovered areas, then coverage completeness is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of uncovered areas and analyzes coverage gaps before installing new base stations. By using coverage overlap calculations to identify specific areas needing coverage, the system can strategically place new stations to maximize coverage effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by focusing new base station installations specifically in identified uncovered areas rather than uniformly expanding the network. This targeted approach ensures coverage completeness is improved in critical gaps while avoiding unnecessary complexity in areas that already have adequate coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
For each respective base station of a plurality of base stations, a coverage area of the respective base station is determined. For at least some respective base stations of the plurality of base stations, a coverage area overlapped quantity is determined that quantifies for a respective base station an overlap region of the coverage area of the respective base station that is overlapped by a coverage area of another base station of the plurality of base stations. A coverage area overlap (CAO) structure is generated that identifies for each respective base station of the at least some respective base stations, the coverage area overlapped quantity of the respective base station and an identifier of the base station that has the coverage area that overlaps the coverage area of the respective base station.