Communication Node Deactivation Based on Active Device Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication networks face challenges in efficiently meeting high data rate demands and optimizing energy consumption, particularly in identifying and managing hotspots of user equipment activity, where deploying additional base stations can be costly and inefficient due to poor indoor positioning accuracy and varying user device activity patterns.

Innovation Solution

A method for deactivating nodes in communication networks by collecting reference signal information, mobility patterns, and D2D communication requests to estimate active user equipment devices, determining if the number of active devices falls below a threshold, and transferring communication to another node if necessary, thereby optimizing node activation and deactivation based on actual demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If macro base stations are deployed densely to meet high data rate demands, then data rate capacity is improved, but cost and installation delay increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rate capacityVSAvoiddeployment cost and time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into macro base stations for wide coverage and small base stations for high-capacity hotspots. This segmentation allows the system to meet high data rate demands in specific areas without deploying dense macro base station grids everywhere, thereby reducing overall deployment cost and time while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different types of base stations are deployed based on local requirements: macro base stations in areas with moderate demand and small base stations in high-demand hotspots. This local quality approach ensures that resources are optimized for each specific area's needs, improving data rate capacity where required without incurring unnecessary deployment costs in low-demand areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If small base stations are deployed in hotspots to reduce cost, then deployment efficiency is improved, but energy consumption efficiency deteriorates when user activity is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station deployment and activation is made dynamic rather than static. Small base stations are deployed efficiently in hotspots but can be deactivated or have their activation threshold adjusted based on real-time user activity monitoring. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain deployment efficiency while adapting energy consumption to actual demand, preventing waste during low-activity periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to monitor user activity in real-time and adjust base station activation status accordingly. When user activity falls below a certain threshold, the system receives feedback and deactivates small base stations to improve energy consumption efficiency, while maintaining the deployed infrastructure for rapid reactivation when demand increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If base stations remain constantly active to ensure service availability, then service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily during low activity periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, base stations operate periodically based on monitored user activity patterns. The system periodically assesses user activity levels and adjusts base station activation accordingly, maintaining service reliability during high-demand periods while reducing energy consumption during low-activity periods through controlled deactivation and reactivation cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3090597B1Methods and devices for deactivating a node in a communication network
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3090597B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090597B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090597B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for deactivating a first node in a communication network' includes determining, in a first tiirte period, a number (A) of active mobile UE devices in a first network cell; determining a number i'B) of static UE devices in the first network cell; and determining a number (C) of requests for direct D2D communication from UE devices in the first network cell. The method includes estimating a number of active UE devices in the first network cell for a second time period, based on one or more of A,.8, and C and determining whether the estimated number of active UE devices is less than a threshold. If so, the method includes transmitting a 'request to a second node to take over communication with one or more of the UE devices. If the request is accepted by the second node, the first node is deactivated.