Physical Layer Sleep Mode for 5G Base Station Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication networks, base stations consume a significant amount of power due to continuous processing of signals for user equipment, even when there are no actively connected devices, leading to inefficient power management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that sets physical layer equipment in a low-power mode based on the number of actively connected user equipment devices, using a periodic pattern with active and inactive time slots, and scheduling network connection information communication during active time slots while deactivating equipment during inactive slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical layer equipment operates continuously to handle user equipment connections, then network service availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic wake-up signals that activate physical layer equipment at scheduled intervals instead of maintaining continuous operation. The wake-up signal component transmits periodic activation commands, and the physical layer equipment alternates between active and sleep states based on these signals, reducing power consumption while maintaining network availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic state transitions for physical layer equipment between active and sleep modes based on real-time network conditions and periodic wake-up signals. The equipment dynamically adjusts its operational state rather than maintaining a fixed continuous operation mode, optimizing the balance between service availability and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If physical layer equipment is deactivated to save power, then energy efficiency is improved, but network connection responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary activation through periodic wake-up signals that prepare physical layer equipment for potential connections before they are needed. The wake-up signal component sends activation commands in advance at periodic intervals, ensuring equipment is ready to respond immediately when user equipment needs to connect, thus maintaining responsiveness while allowing extended sleep periods for energy savings.
3Reliability
If continuous signal processing is performed, then network coverage and service quality are maintained, but power budget consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic wake-up signals to control when signal processing occurs. Instead of continuous processing, the physical layer equipment processes signals only during active periods triggered by periodic wake-up signals, maintaining network coverage during active times while dramatically reducing power budget consumption during sleep periods when no processing is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sleep mode power saving in Layer 1 and radio unit equipment includes facilitating, by a device including a processor, altering a communication schedule of physical layer equipment, associated with a cell of a communication network, from an active schedule to a sleep schedule in response to no user equipment being determined to be actively connected to the cell, where the sleep schedule repeats at intervals of a period and includes active time slots and inactive time slots. The method further includes, in response to the facilitating of the altering, scheduling, by the device, transmission of a network connection message by the physical layer equipment during an active time slot of the active time slots, and deactivating, by the device, the physical layer equipment during an inactive time slot of the inactive time slots.