LTE Reference Signal Bandwidth Reduction for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunication network nodes, such as base stations, consume significant energy due to high transmission power levels, especially during low to moderate traffic loads, where control signaling consumes a substantial portion of power, contributing to energy inefficiency and interference.
Innovation Solution
A method and arrangement that reduce the transmission bandwidth during subframes carrying only reference signals to a temporarily reduced bandwidth, which is at least as wide as the measurement bandwidth but narrower than the full downlink bandwidth, thereby minimizing power consumption and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If full downlink bandwidth is used for transmitting reference signals, then measurement precision is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission bandwidth adjustable rather than fixed. The network node dynamically selects between full bandwidth and reduced bandwidth modes based on traffic load conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational requirements and optimize the balance between energy consumption and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission bandwidth parameter from a fixed full bandwidth setting to a variable parameter that can take different values (full bandwidth or reduced bandwidth). This parameter change allows the system to reduce energy consumption during low-to-moderate traffic loads while maintaining the ability to provide accurate channel estimation when needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If transmission power is reduced to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but interference level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the transmission power level dynamic by adjusting the bandwidth parameter. During low-to-moderate traffic loads, the system dynamically switches to reduced bandwidth mode, which automatically reduces transmission power and consequently reduces interference to other network nodes, while still maintaining sufficient power for reference signal transmission.
3Reliability
If control signaling is transmitted continuously, then network maintenance is ensured, but energy consumption increases during low load periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by adjusting the transmission bandwidth based on traffic load conditions. During low-to-moderate load periods, the system dynamically reduces bandwidth for control signaling transmission, thereby reducing power consumption while still maintaining necessary network maintenance functions. During high load periods, the system switches to full bandwidth to ensure reliable control signaling delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an arrangement for transmitting reference signals in a radio frame in a cellular communication system comprising at least one network node having a measurement bandwidth γ, which is more narrow than a full downlink bandwidth β of said network node. Subframes only carrying reference signals, which are to be transmitted from said network node may be transmitted over a temporarily reduced transmission bandwidth α, which is at least equally wide as the measurement bandwidth Y provided by the network node, and more narrow than the full downlink bandwidth β of the network node. The use of a reduced transmission bandwidth leads to that less reference signals are transmitted, and thereby transmission power will be saved.