Method and Apparatus for Dynamic and Adjustable Energy Savings in a Communication Network
First Claim
1. A method of controlling cell coverage area in a second cell that operates as a capacity-boost cell for a first cell that operates as a basic-coverage cell, said method comprising:
- determining that the capacity-boost cell should be transitioned to or from a power-savings mode;
initiating the transition by beginning a gradual change in cell coverage area of the capacity-boost cell by initiating a change in at least one of cell transmission power and cell handover trigger parameters for the capacity-boost cell; and
dynamically controlling the change in cell coverage area as a function of status or control information sent repeatedly from the basic-coverage cell, so that a rate or extent of the change in the cell coverage area depends on the status or control information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus and method for improving energy saving procedures in a wireless communication network, wherein one or more cells in the network are selectively inactivated for energy savings and reactivated as needed. More particularly, the present invention provides improved control for transitioning a cell to or from a power savings mode, including dynamic, adjustable power control and handover parameter control, based on the involved cells exchanging status and/or control information. The dynamic control results in gradual rather than abrupt changes to cell coverage area, as a cell is transitioned to or from the power savings mode.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling cell coverage area in a second cell that operates as a capacity-boost cell for a first cell that operates as a basic-coverage cell, said method comprising:
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determining that the capacity-boost cell should be transitioned to or from a power-savings mode; initiating the transition by beginning a gradual change in cell coverage area of the capacity-boost cell by initiating a change in at least one of cell transmission power and cell handover trigger parameters for the capacity-boost cell; and dynamically controlling the change in cell coverage area as a function of status or control information sent repeatedly from the basic-coverage cell, so that a rate or extent of the change in the cell coverage area depends on the status or control information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling cell coverage area in a second cell that operates as a capacity-boost cell for a first cell that operates as a basic-coverage cell, said method comprising:
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determining whether to transition the capacity-boost cell to or from a power-savings mode based on a cell status of one or both said capacity-boost cell and said basic-coverage cell, wherein the cell coverage area of the capacity-boost cell is reduced when transitioning to the power-savings mode and increased when transitioning from the power-savings mode; exchanging status or control information repeatedly between a first base station that controls the basic-coverage cell and a second base station that controls the capacity-boost cell; and dynamically controlling a rate or extent of change in the cell coverage area for said transition as a function of the repeatedly exchanged status or control information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first base station that is configured to control a basic-coverage cell in a wireless communication network; a second base station that is configured to control a capacity-boost cell that boosts the capacity of the basic-coverage cell; and wherein each said base station includes a communication interface circuit for exchanging status and/or control information with the other base station, and further includes one or more processing circuits; wherein, in said first base station, the one or more processing circuits are configured to monitor loading in one or both of the basic-coverage cell and the capacity-boost cell, initiate a transition in the capacity-boost cell to or from a power-savings mode, based on said monitoring, and to dynamically control a rate or extent of said transition by repeatedly sending control or status information that gradually changes cell transmission power or handover trigger parameters for the capacity-boost cell, thereby gradually changing a coverage area of the capacity-boost cell; and wherein, in said second base station, the one or more processing circuits are configured to initiate said transition to or from the power-savings mode in response to the control or status information repeatedly sent from first base station, and further to dynamically control the rate or extent of changes in cell coverage area by dynamically controlling the rate or extent of changes in the cell transmission power or the handover trigger parameters according to the control and status information repeatedly sent by the first base station.
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17. A first base station for controlling a basic-coverage cell that is associated with a capacity-boost cell that is controlled by a second base station, said first base station comprising:
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a communication interface circuit for exchanging control or status information with the second base station; and one or more processing circuits configured to; monitor loading in one or both of the basic-coverage cell and the capacity-boost cell; initiate a transition in the capacity-boost cell to or from a power-savings mode, based on said monitoring; and dynamically control a rate or extent of said transition by repeatedly sending control or status information to the second base station that gradually changes cell transmission power or handover trigger parameters for the capacity-boost cell, and thereby gradually changes a coverage area of the capacity-boost cell. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A second base station for controlling a capacity-boost cell that is associated with a basic-coverage cell that is controlled by a first base station, said second base station comprising:
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a communication interface circuit for exchanging control or status information with the first base station; and one or more processing circuits configured to; receive status or control information from the first base station indicating that the capacity-boost cell should be transitioned to or from a power-savings mode; and dynamically control the transition of the capacity-boost cell to or from the power-savings mode so that a coverage area of the capacity-boost cell gradually changes during said transition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification