Beam Reference Signal Control for Energy-Efficient Network Nodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of reducing energy consumption in 4G/5G base stations with beamforming while maintaining UE mobility and network performance, particularly in scenarios where many beams are not actively used, leading to wasted power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling network node components by predicting wireless device locations and movements using machine learning, enabling/disabling beams and adjusting transmission power based on power trace trajectories, and sharing power usage information among network nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beamforming is used to serve multiple UEs in different directions, then network coverage and service quality are improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous transmission on multiple beams
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting UE movement trajectories and proactively adjusting beam configurations before UEs actually move. The network node predicts future UE locations and pre-adjusts beam directions and transmission powers, avoiding the need to continuously monitor and react to UE movements, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic beam management where beam directions, transmission powers, and active beam sets are continuously adjusted based on real-time UE locations and predicted movement trajectories. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to concentrate energy on relevant beams while reducing or eliminating transmission on beams that are not currently needed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining comprehensive coverage and reducing energy consumption.
2Measurement precision
If the number of beam reference signals is increased to support more beam directions, then beamforming precision and coverage are improved, but system complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively activating only the necessary subset of beam reference signals based on predicted UE trajectories and current service requirements. Instead of continuously maintaining all 64 possible SSB beams active, the system activates only those beams that are likely to be needed, reducing measurement and processing complexity while maintaining sufficient beam direction precision for serving UEs.
3Reliability
If beam reference signals are transmitted continuously to maintain beam accuracy, then beamforming performance is maintained, but energy waste occurs when beams are not actively used
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by transmitting beam reference signals only at necessary intervals and only for beams that are currently active or predicted to be needed. Instead of continuous transmission on all beams, the system periodically updates beam reference signals based on UE movement predictions and service requirements, maintaining beamforming performance while eliminating energy waste on inactive beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies discarding and recovering by deactivating beam reference signals on beams that are not currently needed for serving UEs, and reactivating them only when predicted to be required again based on UE trajectory predictions. This allows the system to discard unnecessary transmissions to save energy while recovering beam reference signal transmission when needed to maintain beamforming performance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods of controlling a component of a network node in a wireless communication system are presented herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a method by a network node (101, 200, 300, 560, 1400, 1721, 1741) comprises obtaining (401a) a current location (140) of a wireless device (119, 510) that is determined from measurements reported by the wireless device of a set of beam reference signals (121-126) transmitted by the network node or measurements performed by the network node of a signal (127) transmitted by the wireless device that is spatially related (129) to the corresponding beam reference signal received by the wireless device. Also, the method includes controlling (415a) a component (113-115) of the network node that enables or disables a transmission on one or more beams (121-126) of at least one beam reference signal or adjusts a transmission power of a transmission on the one or more beams of at least one beam reference signal or wireless device-specific data signal, based on a set of power trace trajectories (141-144) of the wireless device.