Femto Access Point Pilot Signal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Femto access points in residential settings face challenges in reducing power consumption and minimizing interference between cells, as they typically operate continuously and emit pilot signals, leading to increased power usage and interference.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing the operation of a radio access point that allows it to switch to a standby mode where it does not transmit a pilot signal, synchronizing with a secondary radio access point, and resumes operation upon receiving a random access or connection setup request, thereby reducing power consumption and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the access point transmits pilot signals continuously, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access point transmits pilot signals periodically rather than continuously. It alternates between active transmission periods and standby periods, achieving both power savings and maintained communication reliability through periodic signal presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point dynamically switches between two operational states: normal mode with pilot signal transmission and standby mode without pilot signal transmission. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual communication needs.
2Reliability
If the access point transmits pilot signals continuously, then communication coverage is maintained, but interference between cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
By transmitting pilot signals periodically rather than continuously, the access point reduces the time duration during which interference can occur. Other cells experience less interference when the femto access point is in standby mode without pilot transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic switching between transmission and standby states allows the system to reduce interference generation during periods when full coverage is less critical, while maintaining coverage during active transmission periods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the access point switches to standby mode, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary synchronization with the radio access network before entering standby mode. This preliminary action ensures that when the access point needs to wake up for communication, it can do so quickly without extensive re-synchronization delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the access point monitors for communication requests and wakes up from standby mode when needed. The network can trigger the access point to exit standby mode when user equipment needs to communicate, maintaining responsiveness while enabling power savings.
Data Source
AI summary
In a radio communication network access network infrastructure, comprising first and second access points into the access network infrastructure which are both capable of communicating over a radio interface with a user equipment, wherein the radio coverage of the first access point is at least partially included in the radio coverage of the second access point, and wherein the first access point is capable of operating in an operating mode wherein it does not transmit a pilot signal, the first access point synchronizes itself with the second access point during reception, and switches to the operating mode wherein it does not transmit a pilot signal.