RNC Control Unit Power Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Radio Network Controllers (RNC) systems maintain high power consumption even during low traffic periods, as all control units remain fully operational regardless of utilization levels, leading to inefficient energy usage.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method where control units in an RNC system operate in an active mode during high traffic periods and switch to a power-saving mode during low traffic periods, with thresholds and time windows determining mode changes based on processor utilization, freezing and reactivating units as necessary to manage request distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all control units remain fully operational during low traffic periods, then system reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The control units dynamically switch between active mode and power-saving mode based on real-time traffic conditions. The administrating unit monitors traffic load and adjusts the operational state of control units accordingly, making the system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain reliability when needed while reducing power consumption when traffic is low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of control units from fully operational to a reduced-power state based on traffic conditions. By monitoring utilization metrics and switching modes, the system adjusts its power consumption parameter dynamically while maintaining sufficient capacity to handle incoming traffic requests, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by stationary object

If control units switch to power-saving mode during low traffic periods, then power consumption is reduced, but system response time may increase when transitioning back to active mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The administrating unit performs preliminary monitoring of traffic conditions and proactively switches control units to power-saving mode before heavy traffic arrives. By anticipating traffic patterns and preparing in advance, the system avoids the time penalty of last-minute transitions while still achieving power savings during low-traffic periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic monitoring of traffic load and uses time-based thresholds to determine when to switch control units between modes. This periodic action allows the system to rhythmically adjust power consumption based on predictable traffic patterns, balancing energy efficiency with response time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Stability of the object's composition

If control units are frozen for a predetermined period before mode change, then load distribution stability is improved, but request processing delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distribution stabilityVSAvoidrequest processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies a partial freezing period to control units before mode changes, which is sufficient to stabilize load distribution but not so long as to cause excessive delays. This optimized freezing duration balances the need for stable load distribution with the requirement to minimize request processing delays, resolving the contradiction between stability and responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9014746B2Conserving the power of a node in a wireless communication system

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method of reducing power consumption of a Radio Network Controller with a plurality of control units in a wireless communication system, each of the control units including one or more processors, the control units being adapted to operate in an active mode or adopt a power saving mode and a first control unit i operating in the active mode, the method comprising the steps of measuring a degree of utilization Cwi of the first control unit i, comparing the degree of utilization Cwi of the first control unit i with a first threshold Tsli, and changing the mode of the first control unit i to a power saving mode after a predetermined first period of time if the degree of utilization of the first control unit i is below the first threshold Tsli.