Adapting Active Digital Processing Components in Radio Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radio networks with centralized resources, managing transmissions efficiently to reduce energy consumption is challenging due to the need to support multiple sources, leading to high energy consumption and potential interference.

Innovation Solution

Adapting the number of active digital processing components in a radio network based on an estimate of the required processing capacity for the combined time-averaged traffic volume, and scheduling transmissions to ensure processing requirements do not exceed the capacity of the active components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If centralized compute resources are shared among multiple radio units, then energy consumption is reduced, but the resources must have sufficient capacity to support transmissions from multiple sources simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidprocessing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the number of active digital processing components based on the estimated combined time-averaged traffic volume. The network controller adjusts processing capacity in real-time by activating or deactivating components, matching resource availability to actual demand rather than maintaining fixed capacity for peak loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of digital processing components by adapting their active state based on traffic conditions. The network controller modifies the number of active components from a static configuration to a dynamic one, changing the system's processing capacity parameter to align with estimated traffic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the number of active digital processing components is reduced to minimize energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the processing capacity may be insufficient to handle peak traffic volumes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidprocessing capacity sufficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network controller performs preliminary estimation of the combined time-averaged traffic volume before adjusting the number of active processing components. This advance planning allows the system to proactively configure processing capacity to match expected demand, preventing both over-provisioning and under-provisioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from traffic volume measurements to continuously adjust the number of active processing components. The network controller monitors actual traffic patterns and refines its estimates, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts processing capacity based on observed network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If transmissions are scheduled to maximize resource utilization, then productivity increases, but processing requirements may exceed the capacity of active digital processing components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling system dynamically adjusts transmission scheduling decisions based on the current configuration of active processing components. The network controller coordinates scheduling with the adaptive processing capacity, ensuring that scheduled transmissions align with available processing resources rather than assuming fixed capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the actual processing capacity of active components to adjust transmission scheduling. The network controller monitors the relationship between scheduled transmissions and processing capacity, refining scheduling decisions to maximize utilization without exceeding available resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250119759A1Method for adapting the number of active digital processing components in a radio network

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for a radio network are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes adapting the number of active digital processing components included in a radio network based on an estimate of a required processing capacity for an estimated combined time-averaged traffic volume relating to a plurality of cells of the radio network; and scheduling transmissions relating to the plurality of cells so that processing requirements of the transmissions do not exceed a processing capacity of the active digital processing components.