METHOD OF REDUCING THE POWER CONSUMPTION IN A MOBILE RADIO NETWORK WITH AT LEAST TWO SUPPLY LAYERS

• US 20100234013A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Schmitt, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/08 Load shedding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile communications network having two or more supply levels (1, 2, 3), wherein the supply levels (1, 2, 3) overlap and are each formed by a plurality of transmission stations, wherein a first supply level (1) is defined as the standard level (1), which guarantees the availability of the mobile communications network, and a second supply level (2, 3) is at least partially and/or temporarily deactivated.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile radio network which has two or more supply layers, wherein the supply layers overlay each other and are each formed by a plurality of transmitting stations, wherein a first supply layer is defined as the standard layer which ensures the availability of the mobile radio network, and in that a second or further supply layer is switched off at least partially or temporarily.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load in the mobile radio network is monitored, and the second supply layer or individual transmitting stations in the second supply layer are switched off if a definable load lower limit is undershot.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second supply layer provides the same services as the standard layer in particular using the same technology as the standard layer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second or a further supply layer provides a different service than that of the standard layer, in particular using a different technology than the standard layer, and that this second or further supply layer is switched off if the service provided by this layer is not required or has not been required over a definable time period.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein load monitoring at each transmitting station is carried out, in particular that individual transmitting stations are temporarily switched off.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a transmitting station is switched off by continuously reducing the output transmitted power to zero.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switching state of transmitting stations of the second or a further supply layer or of individual transmitting stations of the second or a further supply layer is monitored by a monitoring unit, in particular in that the standard layer has monitoring units such as these.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein transmitting stations in a second or a further supply layer are switched on when a definable load level is exceeded or if particular services which are offered by these transmitting stations are required in the mobile radio network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the current switching state of a transmitting station is transmitted by means of a protocol to a monitoring unit if a request or a switching instruction of a monitoring unit has been received or when the switching state of the transmitting station has changed after receiving a switching instruction.