Fixed Wireless Access Sleep Control for Base Station Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high energy consumption of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks poses challenges for wireless network operators due to their always-on nature, which contradicts climate sustainability goals and increases operational expenses, especially since users are not always active during certain times of the day.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to manage FWA access by determining user activity levels and configuring base stations to enter sleep mode when a predefined threshold is met, allowing users to communicate in non-standalone or standalone modes with different wireless protocols, and optimizing data buffer requirements to reduce energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If FWA base stations remain always-on to ensure continuous connectivity, then service reliability and user availability are improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically adjusts its operational state between active and sleep modes based on real-time user activity detection. The system monitors user presence and data traffic, transitioning the base station to sleep mode when no users are active and returning to active mode when users are detected, thereby optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the base station from a static always-on state to a dynamic state that varies based on usage conditions. By monitoring parameters such as user count and data traffic, the system adjusts the base station's power state accordingly, reducing energy consumption during low-usage periods while maintaining connectivity during high-usage periods.
2Loss of energy
If FWA base stations enter sleep mode to reduce energy consumption, then operational expenses decrease, but user connectivity may be disrupted during inactive periods
Solution Approach 1:
The base station implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors user activity status and adjusts its power state accordingly. When users are detected or data traffic is observed, the system receives feedback indicating the need to transition from sleep mode to active mode, ensuring connectivity is restored without unnecessary energy consumption during truly inactive periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of user activity patterns and proactively transitions the base station between sleep and active modes before connectivity issues arise. By monitoring user presence and data usage trends, the system can predict when connectivity will be needed and preemptively activate the base station, avoiding connectivity disruptions.
3Productivity
If FWA users are kept connected continuously to maintain network presence, then service availability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments FWA users into different categories based on their activity patterns and connectivity requirements. By analyzing user behavior, the system identifies which users require continuous connectivity and which can tolerate intermittent connection, allowing the base station to optimize energy consumption by maintaining connections only for users who need them most.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station implements periodic monitoring of user activity status and transitions between sleep and active modes based on this periodic detection. Rather than remaining continuously active or completely inactive, the system uses periodic checks to determine the optimal operational state, balancing service availability with energy efficiency during different time periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects provided herein provide methods, systems, and a non-transitory computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions for managing fixed wireless access (FWA). The method begins with determining that a number of network users connected to a base station is less than an operator defined threshold during a predefined time of day and is greater than a sleep mode threshold, the number of network users comprising an FWA portion and a non-FWA portion. Next, it is determined that the non-FWA portion of network users is less than the sleep mode threshold. Next, the method continues with determining that the FWA portion of network users are configured to communicate with the base station in a non-standalone (NSA) mode, The method then performs an optimization action based on a comparison between an aggregated data buffer requirement and a predetermined aggregated data buffer threshold.