User Terminal-Aware Cell Switch-Off for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell switch-off methods in wireless networks often degrade user experience by increasing uplink transmission power and latency when base stations are switched off, as user equipment needs to communicate with farther stations, leading to reduced battery life and signal quality, and do not effectively consider the quality of service (QoS) requirements of user terminals.
Innovation Solution
A user terminal-aware cell switch-off method that selects base stations to switch off based on QoS requirements, such as uplink and downlink transmission rates, transmission power, latency, and battery life, to minimize the impact on user experience while reducing energy consumption, by estimating the increase in uplink transmission power and using criteria like threshold-based power increments and user prioritization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If base stations are switched off to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but uplink transmission power and latency increase degrading user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of base stations by introducing a switch-off mechanism that transitions BSs between active and inactive states based on traffic conditions and QoS requirements. This parameter change allows the system to reduce energy consumption during low-traffic periods while maintaining service quality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic cell switch-off where the status of base stations is not fixed but changes based on real-time network conditions, traffic load, and user QoS requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to adaptively adjust energy consumption while maintaining user experience through coordinated multi-point transmission when BSs are switched off.
2Loss of energy
If base stations are switched off to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but signal quality and battery life of user equipment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the network controller monitors QoS metrics, user equipment status, and traffic patterns to make informed decisions about base station switch-off. This feedback loop ensures that BSs are only switched off when QoS requirements can still be met through alternative transmission paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of QoS requirements and user equipment capabilities before switching off base stations. By evaluating uplink transmission power levels, latency requirements, and battery status in advance, the system prevents switch-off actions that would degrade signal quality or harm user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Cell switch-off (CSO) methods for base stations (BSs) in a wireless network are provided. The CSO methods utilize quality of service (QoS) requirement information of user equipments (UEs) to determine which BS to switch off according to a pre-defined criteria. The criteria is defined so that impact of switching off a BS on the UEs may be reduced, and/or QoS requirements of at least some of the UEs may be satisfied if a BS was switched off.