Scattering Antenna Arrays for Low-Traffic Cellular Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cellular networks face inefficiencies in power management during low-traffic phases, leading to increased operating costs due to the use of idle base stations and higher transmission powers in active stations, which degrades link budget and consumes excessive energy.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a receiving network node with a configurable antenna array that can switch between transmit-receive and scattering modes, allowing idle base stations to assist active stations by scattering beams to user devices, reducing energy consumption without compromising quality of service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If idle base stations are switched off during low-traffic phases, then energy consumption is reduced, but network coverage is degraded and link budget of user devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a scattering mode as an intermediary state between full transmission-receive mode and complete idle mode. In this mode, the antenna array acts as a passive scattering element that reflects signals from active base stations, providing coverage without requiring the base station to consume full power for transmission and reception operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the base station antenna array by switching between different modes (transmit-receive mode, scattering mode, and idle mode). This parameter change allows the system to adapt energy consumption and coverage levels dynamically based on traffic conditions
2Reliability
If active base stations increase transmission power to cover areas of idle base stations, then network coverage is maintained, but energy consumption and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling only specific base stations to operate in scattering mode while others remain in transmit-receive mode. This localized application allows active base stations to maintain their full transmission power for their own coverage areas while relying on scattering from neighboring idle base stations only where needed
3Reliability
If conventional cell breathing mechanism is used to compensate link budget degradation, then coverage of active base stations is increased, but transmission power of active base stations, neighbouring base stations, and user devices must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of link budget degradation into a beneficial scattering mechanism. Instead of actively transmitting signals that consume power, idle base stations passively scatter signals from active base stations, turning what would be a coverage deficiency into an energy-efficient coverage solution
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances network coverage and signal quality while significantly reducing energy consumption during low-traffic periods, optimizing power usage and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
configuring the one or more configurable loads to scatter, by the configured first antenna array, a first beam of a radio frequency signal sent by a transmitting network node
Data Source
AI summary
A receiving network node includes a first antenna array, one or more radio frequency components, one or more configurable loads, a switch, and a first control circuit. The first control circuit obtains instruction data for configuring the first antenna array from a transmit-receive mode to a scattering mode. The first control circuit configures the one or more configurable loads based on the instruction data to scatter a first beam of a radio frequency signal sent by a transmitting network node located in a first cell to a first user device located in a second cell. The first beam is scattered by the configured first antenna array. The first control circuit controls the switch to change a coupling of one or more antennas from the radio frequency components to the configured one or more configurable loads, and sets the radio frequency components to an idle mode for power-efficient cooperative communication.