Base Station Energy Management via Virtual Load Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face significant energy inefficiencies, particularly with the advent of 5G technology, as existing methods for managing base station power modes do not guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) and can result in coverage holes, and fail to consider spatial and temporal fluctuations in traffic statistics.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive selection scheme that gathers load data from physical base stations, disaggregates it to virtual base stations for granular information, incorporates this data into a global mapping, and solves an optimization problem under QoS and capacity constraints to determine which base stations can be turned off for energy savings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If base stations are switched off to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but coverage holes and QoS degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidQoS guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base station network into multiple operational states (full power, partial power, sleep modes) and divides the network management into distributed control entities. This allows selective switching of individual base stations or sectors while maintaining overall network coverage and QoS through coordinated operation of remaining active stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic power mode adjustment where base stations can transition between different operational states based on real-time traffic demand, load conditions, and network requirements. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt power consumption levels while maintaining QoS when needed and maximizing energy savings when demand is low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If base stations operate in different power modes to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but coverage holes occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different power modes and operational states to different base stations or sectors based on local traffic demand and coverage requirements. High-traffic areas maintain full power operation while low-traffic areas can transition to energy-saving modes, allowing localized optimization without creating coverage holes in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple power saving techniques including base station switching, sector switching, and carrier aggregation deactivation. By merging these approaches, the system can reduce coverage footprint in non-critical areas while maintaining adequate coverage through coordinated operation of remaining active stations and carriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If base stations are densely deployed for 5G networks to improve capacity, then network capability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring and evaluation of base station performance metrics including traffic load, energy consumption, and coverage quality. Based on this periodic assessment, the system dynamically adjusts power modes and switching decisions, enabling dense networks to operate efficiently by cycling through different operational states rather than maintaining constant high-power operation of all stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Use of energy by moving object

If existing PMO management approaches are used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but no QoS and coverage hole avoidance can be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidQoS guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor network performance metrics including QoS parameters, coverage quality, and user experience. This feedback is used to adjust power mode decisions in real-time, ensuring that energy-saving actions do not compromise QoS guarantees or create coverage holes. The system learns from historical data and adapts switching strategies to maintain reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11412447B2Devices and methods for controlling base stations of a communication network

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The invention relates to a network entity for controlling a respective operation mode of a plurality of physical base stations of a wireless communication network 100. The network entity comprises processing circuitry configured to: obtain a respective current data load of each of a plurality of physical base stations in an active operation mode; estimate a respective current data load of each of a plurality of virtual base stations based on the respective current data loads of the plurality of physical base stations; predict a respective data load of each of the plurality of virtual base stations; and adjust, based on the respective data loads of the plurality of virtual base stations, the operation mode of one or more of the plurality of physical base stations to the idle operation mode.