Base Station Power Control via User Equipment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile telecommunications networks consume excessive power due to base stations being unnecessarily powered for long periods, as existing techniques for predicting network usage are often inaccurate, leading to either under-capacity or unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method to dynamically assess whether a base station is supporting user equipment, and if not, signal it to reduce transmission power, using historical user equipment location information to predict requirements and ensure power reduction does not compromise service levels, with predetermined power levels maintained for emergency coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base stations are kept powered for extended periods to ensure network coverage and capacity, then network service reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station transitions between different operational states (active and reduced power) dynamically based on real-time assessment of user equipment support requirements, rather than maintaining a fixed power level. This allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station autonomously assesses whether it is currently supporting user equipment and makes its own decision to reduce power accordingly, without requiring continuous external control or prediction from the network controller. This self-service approach eliminates the need for inaccurate usage predictions.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If existing prediction techniques are used to determine base station power levels, then power consumption can be reduced, but network capacity may become insufficient due to inaccurate predictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback about whether the base station is currently supporting user equipment to make power reduction decisions, rather than relying on forward-looking predictions. This feedback mechanism ensures that power is not reduced when it would compromise network capacity or service quality.
3Loss of energy
If base stations reduce transmission power during periods without user equipment, then power savings are achieved, but network coverage may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The base station autonomously assesses whether it is currently supporting user equipment and makes its own decision to reduce power accordingly, rather than requiring continuous external control or prediction from the network controller. This self-service approach eliminates the need for inaccurate usage predictions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of controlling a base station, α network controller, a base station, a telecommunications network and a computer program product are disclosed. A method of controlling a base station (140; 150; 160) in a mobile telecommunications network (220) comprises the steps of: (i) determining whether a base station within the mobile telecommunications network is not supporting user equipment (110; 120; 130) and, if so, then (ii) signalling the base station to reduce its transmission power. An assessment is made as to whether α base station is currently supporting user equipment. If α base station is currently supporting user equipment, then that base station is unlikely to be α candidate to have its power reduced since support to that user equipment needs to be maintained. However, if α base station is not supporting user equipment, then that base station would appear to be α likely candidate for transmission power reduction, thereby saving power in the network at those locations where it is possible to do so.