Carrier Group Shutdown for Wireless Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for high traffic capacity in wireless networks leads to a significant increase in power consumption due to the large-scale deployment of active antenna units, higher data rates, and the use of millimeter waves and terahertz frequencies, necessitating a reduction in power consumption to address operational costs and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and system that involves receiving indication information from an access network device to shut down carrier groups, allowing terminal devices to reduce the number of operating carriers, with the option to enable or configure candidate primary component carriers, thereby optimizing power usage and minimizing service interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large-scale active antenna units are deployed to meet high traffic requirements, then traffic capacity is improved, but power consumption increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments carriers into carrier groups and enables independent shutdown of individual carrier groups. This allows the system to maintain necessary traffic capacity on active carriers while powering down unused carrier groups, thereby reducing overall power consumption without completely sacrificing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic carrier group shutdown and activation based on real-time traffic conditions. The access network device can dynamically adjust which carrier groups are active or shutdown, allowing the system to adapt power consumption levels to actual traffic demands, balancing productivity and energy usage.
2Speed
If transmission bandwidth increases to meet higher data rates, then data rate is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the transmission bandwidth into discrete carrier groups, the system can selectively activate only the necessary bandwidth portions required for current data rate demands. Unused carrier groups are shutdown, preventing power consumption from increasing linearly with available bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of carrier groups from always-on to conditionally active based on traffic requirements. This parameter change allows the data rate to be adjusted dynamically while controlling power consumption by shutting down carrier groups when full bandwidth is not needed.
3Productivity
If sites are densely deployed with millimeter waves and terahertz to meet traffic demands, then traffic capacity is improved, but power consumption further increases
Solution Approach 1:
In dense deployment scenarios, the patent applies carrier group segmentation to allow selective shutdown of carrier groups at individual sites. This enables traffic capacity to be maintained through coordinated operation of multiple sites while reducing power consumption by shutting down unused carrier groups at each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier group shutdown mechanism provides a universal solution applicable to various deployment densities and frequency bands. The same mechanism that reduces power consumption in sparse deployments also effectively manages power in dense millimeter wave and terahertz deployments, making the system adaptable across different operational scenarios.
4Use of energy by moving object
If carriers are shut down to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but service continuity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of candidate primary component carriers before carrier group shutdown. This preliminary action ensures that alternative carriers are ready and configured, so when carrier groups are shutdown for power saving, service continuity is maintained through seamless switching to candidate carriers without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring backup candidate carriers and establishing switching mechanisms in advance. This cushioning ensures that when carrier groups are shutdown to reduce power consumption, the service continuity is protected through pre-prepared alternative carriers that can immediately take over if needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An access network device sends, to a terminal device, indication information indicating to shut down one or more carrier groups, where each carrier group includes one or more carriers, so that the terminal device shuts down carriers in M carrier groups based on the indication information. This can reduce a quantity of operating carriers, thereby reducing power consumption.