Dynamic Carrier Role Assignment for Wireless Network Energy Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CUPS algorithms fail to optimize energy efficiency for both control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) traffic in wireless communication networks, despite efforts to reduce transmission power and ensure reliable coverage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that predict data throughput and mobility of wireless communication devices to dynamically assign wireless carrier signals to serve either UP traffic, CP traffic, or both, using machine learning models to optimize carrier roles and minimize energy consumption while maintaining coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If existing CUPS algorithms are used to separate control plane and user plane traffic, then network flexibility and cost reduction are achieved, but energy efficiency optimization for both CP and UP traffic is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidtraffic handling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic carrier role assignment where carriers can be assigned to serve CP traffic, UP traffic, or both based on real-time traffic conditions. The system dynamically adjusts carrier roles using predicted throughput and mobility data, allowing the network to optimize energy efficiency while maintaining adequate traffic handling capability for both control and user plane operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by predicting future traffic throughput and mobility patterns to determine optimal carrier assignments. By using predicted data throughput and mobility information, the network can proactively adjust carrier roles to minimize energy consumption while ensuring sufficient productivity for both CP and UP traffic types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If carrier roles are fixed for CP or UP traffic, then network configuration is simple, but energy consumption cannot be optimized based on actual traffic patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcarrier assignment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of traffic throughput and mobility patterns before making carrier assignment decisions. By using predicted data, the network can proactively assign carrier roles in advance, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments while still achieving energy optimization based on actual traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where actual traffic data is used to validate and refine predictions, which then inform carrier role assignments. This feedback loop allows the system to optimize energy consumption by learning from actual traffic patterns while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If all carriers serve both CP and UP traffic, then coverage is maintained, but energy efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments carrier functions by assigning specific carriers to serve CP traffic, UP traffic, or both based on predicted traffic conditions. This segmentation allows the network to maintain coverage reliability by ensuring critical carriers remain active while reducing energy loss by deactivating carriers that don't need to serve both traffic types simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality optimization by assigning different roles to different carriers based on their specific traffic conditions and locations. Not all carriers are treated uniformly - each carrier's role is optimized based on local traffic patterns, allowing the network to maintain reliable coverage where needed while minimizing energy consumption in areas where full dual-service capability is not required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20240323712A1User plane and control plane separation based on mobility and throughput prediction

Publication Date: 2024.09.26 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

For a set of access nodes of a wireless communication network, data throughput of user plane, UP, traffic and control plane, CP, traffic generated by wireless communication devices being served by the access nodes on a plurality of wireless carrier signals is predicted. Further, mobility of the wireless communication devices is predicted. Further, based on the predicted data throughput and the predicted mobility, it is decided for at least some of the plurality of wireless carrier signals whether the wireless carrier signal is assigned either to serving UP traffic, to serving CP traffic, or to serving both UP traffic and CP traffic.