Baseband Resource Allocation for Radio Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing baseband resources, leading to high energy consumption and limited flexibility in adapting to varying traffic loads, as existing technologies cannot easily shut down or reallocate resources without affecting user equipment accessibility and coverage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allocate baseband resources from one digital unit to another, allowing for the concentration of computational processing and enabling the shutdown of underutilized digital units during low traffic or maintenance, while maintaining coverage and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If baseband resources are allocated to multiple digital units to maintain coverage and accessibility, then user equipment service level is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice levelVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically allocates baseband resources by establishing a mapping relationship between radio units and digital units, allowing flexible reconfiguration of resource allocation based on traffic load conditions. This enables the system to adapt to varying service demands while optimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the allocation parameters of baseband resources by adjusting the mapping between radio units and digital units according to traffic load conditions. When traffic load is low, the system can reallocate resources to fewer digital units, reducing energy consumption while maintaining service level through parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If digital units are shut down during low traffic to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but system reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a resource allocation mapping relationship before shutdown occurs. When shutting down digital units during low traffic periods, the system uses pre-established mappings to ensure that affected radio units can be quickly reassigned to operational digital units, maintaining service continuity and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mapping relationship between radio units and digital units that acts as a mediator during shutdown transitions. This mapping mechanism ensures smooth resource reallocation and maintains service level even when digital units are taken offline for maintenance or energy saving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If baseband processing is centralized to reduce hardware utilization, then operational expenses are reduced, but adaptability to traffic load changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware utilizationVSAvoidadaptability to traffic load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic resource allocation where the mapping between radio units and digital units can be reconfigured based on traffic load conditions. This allows centralized baseband processing to adapt to varying traffic demands, maintaining high hardware utilization efficiency while preserving system adaptability through flexible resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2783547B1Allocation of baseband resources to a radio unit of a serving cell
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2783547B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2783547B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2783547B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Communication system (100) and a method in a communication system for allocating an amount of baseband resource in one of a plurality of digital units (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 55) to a radio unit (112)serving a cell (122). The method comprises estimating (301) the 5 amount of the baseband resource to be allocated to the radio unit (112),identifying (302) a digital unit (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155) of the plurality of digital units on which a neighbour radio unit (110, 114), serving a neighbour cell (120, 124), situated in a geographical vicinity of the cell (122) is allocated baseband resource,determining (303) that the digital unit (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155) has available baseband resource of the 10 estimated (301) amount, and if so, allocating (304)the estimated (301) amount of baseband resource in the digital unit (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155) to the radio unit (112).