Small Cell Base Station Wake-Up via Access Point Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small cellular base stations consume excessive energy as they remain active continuously, leading to increased network energy consumption, and existing methods to reduce this, such as dynamic idle mode procedures, are inefficient and require additional hardware, especially when waking up stations for incoming calls is unreliable, especially in heterogeneous networks.
Innovation Solution
A method where an access point detects the presence of a terminal and sends a message to the base station, which then informs the cellular network of the terminal's location, allowing the base station to wake up only when an incoming call is received, reducing unnecessary activation and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If small base stations remain active continuously to ensure immediate service availability, then service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically transitions between active and standby states based on traffic conditions. When no traffic is detected for a threshold period, the station enters standby mode with reduced energy consumption while maintaining the ability to quickly resume service when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of terminal presence through access points before actual communication occurs. This allows the base station to prepare for incoming calls in advance, ensuring quick activation without requiring continuous operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If base stations are put in standby mode to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but wake-up reliability for incoming calls deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Access points serve as intermediaries between terminals and base stations during standby mode. They detect terminal presence and forward wake-up notifications to the base station, ensuring reliable call delivery without requiring the base station to remain continuously active.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where access points monitor terminal presence and notify the base station accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that base stations wake up reliably when needed while maintaining energy-efficient standby operation during idle periods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic idle mode procedures are implemented to manage base station states, then energy management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments functionality between base stations and access points. Access points handle terminal detection and notification, while base stations focus on communication processing. This division reduces the complexity burden on individual components while achieving comprehensive energy management.
4Reliability
If base stations activate continuously to ensure complete network coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but network energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, base stations use periodic monitoring through access points to detect terminal presence. This periodic action maintains coverage reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption during idle periods when no terminals are present.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of waking up a base station of a cellular network, the method comprising the following steps:putting said base station partially on standby; andan access point of a local wireless network detecting the presence of a terminal in its coverage zone, and identifying said terminal.Said method further comprising the following steps:said access point transmitting a message indicating the presence of the terminal, said message containing an identifier of the terminal;the base station receiving said message;the base station transmitting to said cellular network information that said terminal is situated in its coverage zone; andthe base station waking up when it receives a communication for the terminal from the cellular network.Application to heterogeneous mobile networks.