Frequency-Band Traffic Steering for Lower-Power 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power consumption and environmental sustainability challenges posed by 5G technology, particularly due to wider channel bandwidths and higher energy demands in millimeter wave communications, necessitate efficient management of network traffic and load across different frequency bands to reduce energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for transferring network traffic and load from high-energy-consuming frequency bands to lower-energy-consuming bands, enabling resources to enter low-power states based on conditions such as load and coverage, using intelligent decision-making processes and coordination between network resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If 5G technology uses wider channel bandwidths and millimeter wave communications, then communication capacity and service provision opportunities increase, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic steering that adapts network resource allocation based on real-time conditions. The system continuously monitors traffic patterns, user equipment locations, and network load, then dynamically redirects traffic between frequency bands and network resources to optimize power consumption while maintaining service quality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters by steering traffic between different frequency bands (mmWave, mid-band, low-band) based on power consumption characteristics. The system modifies traffic distribution parameters, resource allocation parameters, and network configuration parameters to shift load from high-power resources to lower-power resources, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining communication capacity.
2Productivity
If high band frequency resources are used for network traffic, then additional capacity is provided, but energy demand and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary traffic steering mechanism that acts as a mediator between high-band and low-band frequency resources. This intermediary system intelligently routes traffic through appropriate frequency bands based on real-time conditions, preventing direct over-reliance on high-power high-band resources while maintaining their capacity benefits when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal traffic handling system that can operate across multiple frequency bands (mmWave, mid-band, low-band) and network resources (5G, 4G, Wi-Fi). This multi-functional approach allows the same traffic steering infrastructure to utilize diverse resources with different power characteristics, reducing overall energy demand while maintaining network capacity.
3Reliability
If network resources operate continuously to maintain service quality, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring and evaluation of network conditions, traffic patterns, and power consumption levels. The traffic steering system operates in cycles, continuously assessing whether high-power resources are actively needed or can be temporarily deactivated. This periodic action allows resources to enter low-power states during periods of low demand while maintaining service quality through rapid reactivation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor service quality metrics, user equipment status, and network load conditions. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust resource allocation and traffic steering decisions, ensuring that high-power resources remain active only when necessary for maintaining service quality, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining that a network load would consume a first amount of power if supported by a first frequency band of a network, resulting in a first determination, determining that the network load would consume a second amount of power if supported by a second frequency band of the network that is different from the first frequency band, resulting in a second determination, the second amount of power being less than the first amount of power, and based at least on the first determination and the second determination, allocating the network load to the second frequency band. Other embodiments are disclosed.