Power Management for Communication Systems Using Dependency Weights

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management approaches for communication systems are complex due to the numerous functional components, including virtual and physical network functions, and nested network services, which are shared among multiple network services, making efficient power handling challenging.

Innovation Solution

A method for power management in communication systems involves determining power weights that specify dependencies between the power states of network services and their functional components, and using these weights to decide and update power states, ensuring efficient handling of shared resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional power management approaches are used in communication systems with multiple shared functional components, then the system can provide network services, but the power management complexity increases significantly due to numerous functional components and shared resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service provisionVSAvoidpower management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power management problem by introducing power weights that separately quantify different types of dependencies (functional component-level, network service-level, and shared resource-level dependencies). This segmentation allows the complex power management problem to be broken down into manageable weighted dependency relationships, reducing overall management complexity while maintaining service provision capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing power weights as quantitative parameters to describe dependency relationships. Instead of managing complex qualitative relationships among functional components and network services, the system uses numerical power weights to represent dependency strength, enabling more efficient power state transition decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If power states are changed in shared functional components, then energy efficiency can be improved, but conflicts arise due to multiple network services depending on the same components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where power state transitions are monitored and evaluated based on power weight dependencies. When a power state change is considered for a shared functional component, the system feedback-checks the impact on dependent network services using the pre-established power weights, allowing energy-efficient transitions that maintain service continuity by respecting critical dependencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic power weight adjustments that allow the system to adapt dependency relationships based on current operational conditions. Power weights can be updated to reflect changing service requirements and component states, enabling the system to dynamically balance energy efficiency improvements with service reliability requirements in real-time scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4539560A1Method for power management of a communication system
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4539560A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4539560A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4539560A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a method for power management of a communication system is described, comprising providing a network service by means of one or more functional components, determining one or more power weights, each power weight specifying a dependency between power states, deciding to change the power state of at least one of the network service and the one or more functional components and updating, in response to the decided change, the power states of the network service and the one or more functional components taking into account the dependencies of the power state of the network service and/or of the one or more functional components as specified by the power weights.