Power Management Subsystem for Distributed Antenna Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Distributed antenna systems (DAS) face inefficiencies in power consumption due to underutilized remote units, leading to unnecessary energy usage and increased operating costs, especially in environments with varying occupancy levels.

Innovation Solution

A power management subsystem that monitors utilization metrics, such as uplink traffic and sensor data, to determine underutilized remote units and configures them for low-power operation, reducing energy consumption without compromising coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If access points are operated continuously to ensure coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but power consumption increases unnecessarily during low utilization periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of remote units based on real-time utilization metrics. Remote units can transition between active, idle, and low-power states depending on traffic demand, allowing the DAS to adapt its power consumption to actual usage patterns while maintaining coverage where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The power management subsystem continuously monitors utilization metrics from remote units and uses this feedback to make informed decisions about power state transitions. The system measures traffic patterns, occupancy levels, and signal conditions to determine when to adjust power states, creating a closed-loop control system that balances coverage reliability with energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If remote units are deactivated to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but coverage may be compromised in underutilized areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcoverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different power management strategies to different remote units based on their local conditions. Each remote unit's power state is independently controlled according to its specific utilization pattern, allowing the system to optimize energy efficiency in low-traffic areas while maintaining full power in high-traffic areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of completely deactivating remote units, the system uses partial action by transitioning them to low-power states that maintain basic coverage capabilities. This allows the remote units to provide minimal coverage during low-utilization periods while consuming significantly less power, avoiding the need for complete shutdown

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If all remote units operate at full power, then signal quality is maintained, but operating costs increase due to unnecessary energy usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidoperating costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters of remote units based on utilization metrics. Power management decisions are made by analyzing traffic patterns, occupancy data, and signal conditions, then adjusting parameters such as transmit power, active carriers, and processing resources to match actual demand, thereby reducing operating costs while maintaining signal quality where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3522401B1Power management for distributed antenna system
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP3522401B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3522401B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3522401B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

Certain aspects involve power management subsystems for a distributed antenna system ("DAS") or other telecommunication system. The power management subsystem can include a measurement module and an optimization module. The measurement module can monitor a utilization metric for a remote unit in the DAS or other telecommunication system. The power optimization module can determine whether the remote unit is underutilized based on the monitored utilization metric. The power optimization module can configure the remote unit for a low-power operation in response to determining that the remote unit is underutilized.