Dynamic Transmit Point Muting in Virtual RAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile network operators face high operational expenses and environmental impact due to the significant power consumption of base stations, which account for up to eighty percent of cellular network energy usage, necessitating efficient energy management techniques.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic energy-efficient transmit point muting in virtual radio access networks by offloading data traffic and control signaling between physical transmit points, allowing for the selective deactivation of downlink and uplink transmitters of base stations when idle, and reactivating them based on uplink feedback signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base stations are kept active to serve user equipment, then network service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic TP muting where base stations transition between active and sleep modes based on real-time traffic conditions. The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of transmit points, activating them when traffic demand exists and deactivating them during low-traffic periods, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining service reliability and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring of traffic conditions and periodic switching between active and sleep modes. By implementing periodic action cycles that include monitoring, decision-making, and mode switching, the system ensures network reliability is maintained during active periods while achieving energy savings during sleep periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If base stations are deactivated to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but network service reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where traffic conditions are continuously monitored and fed back to the control logic. This feedback enables the system to detect when user equipment requires service and immediately activate the appropriate transmit points, ensuring network reliability is maintained while maximizing energy savings during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring sleep mode transitions based on predicted low-traffic periods and maintaining readiness to activate. By preparing in advance for low-traffic conditions and having activation mechanisms ready, the system can quickly respond to service demands while maximizing energy savings during predictable idle periods.
3Loss of energy
If transmit points are muted during low traffic, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base station functionality into independent transmit points that can be individually controlled. By dividing the system into separable TP units with distinct active and sleep states, the complexity of energy management is distributed across multiple simple units rather than requiring complex centralized control of the entire base station system.
Data Source
AI summary
Operational and environmental efficiency in virtual radio access networks (VRANs) can be improved by offloading data traffic and/or control signaling between physical transmit points (TPs) of a virtual TP. This may allow one or more physical TPs of the virtual TP to be muted in the downlink or uplink direction, thereby reducing energy consumption. The offloading may be performed during relatively short time-intervals such that physical TP are muted for one or more transmission time intervals (TTIs) before being re-activated. The offloading may also be implemented over longer time-intervals in accordance with a traffic engineering (TE) policy. Further it is possible to re-activate a de-activated downlink transmitter of physical TP by monitoring wireless signals via an activated receiver of the physical TP.