Location-Based eNB Activation for Load Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE networks, there is a need to efficiently identify and wake up sleeping eNBs to offload mobile entities from overloaded cells, as existing methods are inefficient and energy wasteful, especially when not all eNBs can assist in offloading due to varying load conditions and energy-saving requirements.
Innovation Solution
A location-based method that determines candidate eNBs by analyzing their coverage and location information, combined with a timer-based approach to ensure only necessary eNBs are activated for a limited time to assist in offloading, thereby conserving energy and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sleeping eNBs are activated to offload mobile entities from overloaded cells, then network capacity and service availability are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively activating only those sleeping eNBs that are geographically closest to and most suitable for serving specific mobile entities, rather than activating all sleeping eNBs uniformly. This localized approach ensures network capacity is improved only where needed while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by activating only a subset of sleeping eNBs based on proximity and load conditions, rather than activating all available sleeping eNBs. The system determines the minimum necessary number of eNBs to activate to handle the offloading requirement, thereby balancing network capacity improvement with energy conservation.
2Productivity
If multiple sleeping eNBs are activated simultaneously, then offloading capacity is improved, but energy waste increases when not all eNBs are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents energy waste by activating only the necessary number of sleeping eNBs based on precise calculations of offloading requirements. The system determines exactly how many eNBs need to be activated to handle the mobile entities being offloaded, avoiding the activation of excess eNBs that would consume unnecessary energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables sleeping eNBs to self-evaluate their suitability for activation by comparing their proximity to mobile entities and their current load conditions. Each sleeping eNB can determine whether it should be activated based on its own characteristics and the offloading requirements, reducing the need for centralized control and improving energy efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If eNBs remain in sleep state to conserve energy, then energy efficiency is improved, but network responsiveness and service quality deteriorate when offloading is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains network responsiveness by keeping a registry of sleeping eNBs with their location and capability information预先 prepared. When offloading is needed, the system can immediately query this pre-prepared information and activate suitable eNBs without delay, ensuring rapid response while maintaining energy efficiency during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where eNBs report their load conditions and mobile entities report their locations. This continuous feedback allows the network to dynamically determine when and which eNBs to activate, ensuring network responsiveness is maintained only when actually needed rather than operating in a constant high-power state.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are provided to facilitate offloading of mobile entities from a serving network entity. For example, there is provided a location-based method that involves, in response to a load of the requesting entity exceeding a load threshold, identifying candidate network entities to which to offload a user equipment (UE), each of the candidate network entities being in sleep mode. The method may involve determining coverage and location information for the candidate network entities, and determining location information for the UE. The method may involve selecting a given network entity to turn ON based at least in part on the coverage information and the location information. The method may involve sending an ON-request message to the at least one selected network entity, the ON-request message including a timer that can be used to deactivate the selected network entity in case it is not useful in offloading the serving network entity.