Transceiver for Energy-Sustaining Small Cell Base Station Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Energy-sustaining small cell base stations (ESSCs) operating on sustainable energy sources like solar and wind often remain in a sleep mode due to intermittent energy availability, requiring efficient activation and reconfiguration methods to minimize power consumption and installation costs, especially in densely populated areas with high small cell density.
Innovation Solution
An ultra-low power transceiver with a detector, network node determination unit, and controller that dynamically controls ESSCs to switch between sleep and activated modes, and modifies operational parameters like frequency, power, and spatial orientation based on detected control signals from macro cell base stations or user equipment, without relying on the primary communication chain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If ESSCs remain in sleep mode to conserve energy, then power consumption is reduced, but activation and reconfiguration require significant digital processing power
Solution Approach 1:
The control signal is segmented into two parts: a wake-up indicator that triggers activation, and embedded configuration parameters that are processed after activation. This segmentation allows the system to separate the low-power detection function from the higher-power processing function, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reconfiguration capability
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration parameters are pre-encoded into the control signal before transmission. When the ESSC wakes up, it already has the configuration data available, eliminating the need for separate configuration transactions and reducing the total processing burden during activation
2Use of energy by moving object
If ESSCs are activated on need-to-communicate basis, then energy efficiency is improved, but activation time and responsiveness may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The macro cell base station performs preliminary actions by encoding configuration parameters into the control signal before transmission. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming configuration exchanges after ESSC activation, reducing activation time while maintaining energy-efficient sleep operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control signal acts as an intermediary that carries both the wake-up command and configuration data simultaneously. This mediator approach allows the ESSC to transition from sleep to active state with pre-packaged configuration information, reducing activation delay without requiring continuous monitoring
3Ease of manufacture
If wireless backhaul is used instead of cable/fibre, then installation cost is reduced, but signal reliability and bandwidth may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control signal serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a wake-up indicator, carries configuration parameters, and provides activation commands. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate communication channels, improving signal utilization efficiency and reliability over the wireless backhaul link
4Ease of manufacture
If ESSCs use autonomous energy sources like solar panels, then power supply installation cost is reduced, but uninterrupted operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ESSC operates in periodic cycles, alternating between sleep mode and active mode. During sleep mode, it conserves energy and harvests power from autonomous sources. During active mode, it performs communications tasks. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to function reliably with intermittent energy availability while maintaining cost-effective autonomous power supply installation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
There is provided a transceiver (200) for controlling a first network node (202). The transceiver comprises a detector (204) operable to detect a control signal from a second network node or a network node; a network node determination unit (206) operable responsive to the detector to determine that the detected control signal relates to the first network node; and a controller (208) operable responsive to the determination unit to control the first network node based on the detected control signal.