Method and Telecommunications Network for Deactivating or Activating a Cell in Such a Network

• US 20130053039A1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Jorguseski, Ljupco, Litjens, Remco, Zhang, Haibin
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for deactivation of at least one first cell of a plurality of cells in a telecommunications network. User devices in the at least one first cell are triggered to report measurement information regarding one or more second cells of the plurality of cells to the telecommunications network. The measurement information is received in the telecommunications network (preferably using the still active at least one first cell) and analysed (in the telecommunications network or by an external system), in order to determine whether one or more user devices in the at least one first cell are eligible for being served by a second cell of the one or more second cells when the at least one first cell would be deactivated. When the one or more user devices are determined to be eligible for being served by the second cell of the one or more second cells, the one or more user devices are transferred, i.e. are handed over or perform cell reselection from the first cell to the second cell and the at least one first cell is deactivated.

Claims

1. A method for deactivation of at least one first cell of a plurality of cells in a telecommunications network, the plurality of cells defining a coverage area containing a plurality of user devices, the method comprising:

triggering at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell to report measurement information regarding one or more second cells of the plurality of cells to the telecommunications network;

receiving and analyzing the measurement information regarding the one or more second cells to determine whether the at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell is eligible for being served by a second cell of the one or more second cells when the at least one first cell would be deactivated; and

deactivating the at least one first cell when the at least one user device is determined to be eligible for being served by the second cell of the one or more second cells.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein analyzing the measurement information regarding the one or more second cells includes verifying whether at least one of a signal level or a signal quality at the at least one user device from the second cell meets at least one of a signal level condition or a signal quality condition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein analyzing the measurement information regarding the one or more second cells includes verifying whether an estimate of the quality of service obtained in the second cell meets a quality of service condition.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein verifying whether an estimate of the quality of service obtained in the second cell meets a quality of service condition comprises:

obtaining, from the at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell pilot measurement information comprising at least one of pilot signal strength or pilot quality measurement information related to the one or more second cells;

assessing the pilot measurement information to assign the pilot measurement information for at least one particular user device of the plurality of user devices to a particular second cell of the one or more second cells; and

verifying whether the particular second cell is capable of satisfying a required quality of service for the at least one particular user device of the plurality of user devices when the first cell is deactivated.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising verifying whether the particular second cell is capable of satisfying a required quality of service for at least one user device already served via the particular second cell when the first cell is deactivated and the at least one particular user device would be handed over to the particular second cell.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

performing at least one of an energy consumption reduction analysis or an electromagnetic radiation reduction analysis for the telecommunications network to obtain at least one of an energy consumption reduction analysis result or an electromagnetic radiation analysis result; and

deactivating the at least one first cell when at least one of the energy consumption reduction analysis result meets an energy reduction condition or the electromagnetic radiation analysis result meets an electromagnetic radiation reduction condition.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell to report measurement information regarding one or more second cells of the plurality of cells to the telecommunications network is based on a cell load experienced in the at least one first cell from active user devices of the plurality of user devices.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first cell and the second cell of the one or more second cells define a handover area in the coverage area, and wherein triggering at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell to report measurement information regarding one or more second cells of the plurality of cells to the telecommunications network includes a trigger to user devices in the first cell and outside the handover area.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising instructing the at least one user device in the at least one first cell using a broadcast channel in the at least one first cell, to set at least one of a measurement threshold to enable the at least one user device to obtain measurement information or a reporting threshold defining a threshold for reporting the measurement information.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the measurement information from at least one active user device via signaling channels; and

receiving the measurement information from at least one active user device via signaling channels.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein requesting the measurement information regarding the one or more second cells is performed during a time interval comprising less than 15 minutes.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell comprises at least one of:

transmitting a reporting identifier in the at least one first cell;

manipulating a signal threshold to be applied by the at least one user device in the at least one first cell;

transmitting a paging message in the first cell instructing at least one idle user device of the plurality of devices to obtain or report the measurement information;

or

temporarily decreasing a location area update period in the at least one first cell.

15. A telecommunications network configured for performing the method of claim 1.

17. A user device configured for operating in the method according to claim 1.

13. A method in a telecommunications network containing a plurality of cells defining a coverage area containing a plurality of user devices, the plurality of cells being in a current state including a first cell that is an active cell and a second cell that is an active cell, the method comprising:

retrieving history information about a previous transition from a first previous state, wherein the first cell was an active cell and the second cell was an active cell, to a second previous state wherein the first cell was an inactive cell and the second state was an active cell; and

estimating from the retrieved history information whether the first cell can be deactivated.

14. A method in a telecommunications network containing a plurality of cells defining a coverage area containing a plurality of user devices, the plurality of cells comprising a first cell that is an active cell for a first radio access technology and a second cell that is an inactive cell for the first radio access technology and an active cell for a second radio access technology, the method comprising:

triggering user devices in the first cell to report measurement information regarding the second radio access technology of the second cell;

receiving and analyzing the measurement information regarding the second radio access technology of the second cell to determine whether at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell are eligible for being served by the second cell using the first radio access technology; and

activating the first radio access technology in the second cell when the at least one user device is determined to be eligible for being served by the second cell using the first radio access technology.

16. A computer program comprising software code portions configured for, when executed by a processor, performing functions comprising:

triggering at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell to report measurement information regarding one or more second cells of the plurality of cells to the telecommunications network;

receiving and analyzing the measurement information regarding the one or more second cells to determine whether the at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell is eligible for being served by a second cell of the one or more second cells when the at least one first cell would be deactivated; and

deactivating the at least one first cell when the one or more user devices are determined to be eligible for being served by the second cell of the one or more second cells.

18. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise verifying whether at least one of a signal level or a signal quality at the at least one user device from the second cell meets at least one of a signal level condition or a signal quality condition.

19. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise verifying whether an estimate of the quality of service obtained in the second cell meets a quality of service condition.

20. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

obtaining, from the at least one user device of the plurality of user devices in the at least one first cell pilot measurement information comprising at least one of pilot signal strength or pilot quality measurement information related to the one or more second cells;

assessing the pilot measurement information to assign the pilot measurement information for at least one particular user device of the plurality of user devices to a particular second cell of the one or more second cells; and

verifying whether the particular second cell is capable of satisfying a required quality of service for the at least one particular user device of the plurality of user devices when the first cell is deactivated.