Real Time Event-Driven Automation for Energy Management in a Wireless Network

• US 20110183704A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Moreno, Salvador Pedraza, Moreno, Juan Ramiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,066,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for real time event-driven automation of energy management features within a wireless communications network. Resources within a wireless communications network, such as entire base stations or equipment within a base station supporting specific cells, sectors, frequency bands, or services, may be switched on or off in response to events occurring within the communications network. A central controller receives a network interface message corresponding to an event occurring within the communications network. The central controller analyzes the network interface message and, based upon the analysis of the network interface message, generates an action message that includes instructions to take an action on an affected network resource within the communications network. The action message is then transmitted to the appropriate network resource. The action message may cause the affected network resource to implement power management parameters for adjusting the power consumption of the network resource.

Claims

1. A controller configured to:

receive a network interface message corresponding to a network event occurring within a wireless communications network,

identify an affected network resource with which the network event is associated based on the network interface message;

determine network resource needs of the affected network resource based on information associated with the network event;

upon determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on the information associated with the network event, determine power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource;

upon determining power management parameters for the affected network resource, generate a power management action message configured to implement the power management parameters at the affected network resource; and

to

transmit the power management action message to the affected network resource.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the affected network resource is configured to:

establish communications with a mobile station;

upon establishing communications with the mobile station, receive the information associated with the network event;

upon receiving the information associated with the network event, generate the network interface message corresponding to the network event;

transmit the network interface message to the controller; and

receive the power management action message generated by the controller.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the network event comprises user information associated with the network event or a service request associated with the network event or based on traffic associated with the network event.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch all or a portion of the affected network resource on, to switch all or a portion of the affected resource off, or to place all or a portion of the affected resource in a standby mode of operation.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch on or switch off a function of the affected network resource.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource in real time or near real time.

7. A computer-implemented method of energy management within a wireless communications network, comprising:

receiving a network interface message corresponding to a network event occurring within the communications network;

identifying an affected network resource with which the network event is associated;

determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on information associated with the network event;

upon determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on the information associated with the network event, determining power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource;

upon determining power management parameters for the affected network resource, generating a power management action message configured to implement the power management parameters at the affected network resource; and

transmitting the power management action message to the affected network resource.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on information associated with the network event comprises determining network resource needs associated with the affected network resource based on user information associated with the network event, a service request associated with the network event, or based on traffic associated with the network event.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch on or switch off the affected network resource.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch on or switch off a function of the affected network resource.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource are determined in real time or near real time.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the network event comprises a user requesting use of a service associated with the affected network resource.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the network event comprises a mobile station coming in proximity to a network resource.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a network interface message corresponding to a network event occurring within a communications network;

identify an affected network resource with which the network event is associated;

determine network resource needs of the affected network resource based on information associated with the network event;

upon determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on the information associated with the network event, determine power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource;

upon determining power management parameters for the affected network resource, generate a power management action message configured to implement the power management parameters at the affected network resource; and

transmit the power management action message to the affected network resource.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining network resource needs of the affected network resource based on information associated with the network event comprises determining network resource needs associated with the affected network resource based on user information associated with the network event, a service request associated with the network event, or based on traffic associated with the network event.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch on or switch off the affected network resource.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the power management action message comprises instructions to switch on or switch off a function of the affected network resource.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the power management parameters for the affected network resource based on the network resource needs of the affected network resource are determined in real time or near real time.