Wireless Node Discontinuous Transmission Energy Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless network nodes, such as base stations, consume excessive energy due to continuous transmission of signals even when there are no active terminals, leading to unnecessary power consumption and heat generation, which is environmentally detrimental and costly.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a discontinuous transmission mode where signals are intermittently transmitted only when necessary, allowing base stations to reduce energy usage and minimize interference by monitoring active terminals and adjusting transmission patterns based on load thresholds, with terminals synchronizing mobility measurements during these periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous transmission is used to ensure terminals can always find and connect to cells, then connection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits reference signals periodically rather than continuously. During idle periods with no active terminals, transmission is suspended and only resumed when terminals need to camp or perform handovers, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining connection reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission state of the base station is dynamically adjusted based on terminal activity. The system transitions between continuous transmission (when terminals are active) and intermittent transmission (when idle), optimizing energy consumption according to real-time network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If continuous transmission is used to maintain network coverage, then service availability is improved, but heat generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing periodic transmission instead of continuous transmission during idle periods, the base station reduces operational time and consequently heat generation, while maintaining service availability when terminals require network access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If continuous transmission is used to ensure network coverage, then signal availability is improved, but interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal availabilityVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base station employs periodic transmission during idle periods, reducing the time duration of transmissions and thereby minimizing interference to other cells and networks, while maintaining signal availability when terminals need to access the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11696238B2Controlling energy consumption of a wireless network node

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A user equipment receives a signal indicating a time schedule for intermittent transmission of information from a base station managing a cell. The intermittent transmission of information enables the UE to perform mobility measurements when the cell is in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode and the UE is an active terminal not served by the cell. The UE performs, based on the intermittent transmission of information, a mobility measurement when the cell is in the DTX mode and reports the mobility measurement to the base station.