Energy-Aware Handover in Radio Access Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing energy consumption during handovers between base stations, which can impact load balancing and energy efficiency in radio access networks.

Innovation Solution

Predictions of energy consumption are exchanged between base stations before making handover decisions, allowing for more informed load balancing and energy-saving strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If handover decisions are made without energy consumption predictions, then handover process is simple and fast, but energy efficiency in radio access network deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidhandover decision complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Energy consumption predictions are exchanged between base stations in advance before handover decisions are made. This preliminary exchange of prediction information allows the serving base station to make informed handover decisions that optimize energy efficiency without adding complex real-time calculations during the handover process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If energy consumption predictions are exchanged between base stations, then energy efficiency improves, but signaling overhead and network complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The energy consumption prediction information is extracted as a separate signaling element that is exchanged independently between base stations. This allows the prediction data to be handled efficiently without interfering with other handover signaling processes, minimizing overall signaling overhead while still enabling energy-optimized handover decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If traditional handover procedures are used, then handover process is simple, but load balancing and energy saving opportunities are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload balancing efficiencyVSAvoidhandover operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Energy consumption predictions are fed back to the serving base station from neighboring base stations, enabling the system to make handover decisions that optimize both load balancing and energy efficiency. This feedback mechanism provides the necessary information to improve productivity without significantly complicating the handover operation, as the predictions are obtained through standardized signaling exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4346285A1Energy efficiency in radio access network
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • EP4346285A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4346285A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4346285A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station may communicate with other base stations for handover decisions. Information about energy consumption of other base stations may be used by the base station for efficient handover decisions. Predictions of energy consumption may be exchanged before making a handover decision so that handover decisions may be based on energy usage.