Method of reducing the power consumption in a mobile radio network with at least two supply layers

• US 8,412,205 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Schmitt, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/741,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/522, 455/422.1, 455/41.2, 455/443, 455/444, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/443
• 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 that overlay each other and are each formed by a plurality of transmitting stations, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a first supply layer as the standard layer that ensures the availability of the mobile radio network and a second or further supply layer that provides a different service and belongs to a different technology than the standard layer,

switching off the transmitting stations of the second or further layer at least partially or temporarily when the service provided by this layer is not requested or has not been requested for a defined time period, and

reactivating a deactivated transmitting station of the second or further service layer as soon as at least one terminal that supports the technology of this second or further service layer becomes active in a service area of the deactivated transmitting station.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the load in the mobile radio network, and

switching off the second supply layer or individual transmitting stations in the second supply layer if a definable load lower limit is undershot.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring load at each transmitting station of the second or further layer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a transmitting station of the second or further layer is switched off by continuously reducing its output transmitted power to zero.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring the switching state of transmitting stations of the second or further supply layer by a monitoring unit of the standard layer.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

switching on transmitting stations in the second or a further supply layer when a definable load level is exceeded or if particular services offered by the transmitting stations of the second or further supply layer are required in the mobile radio network.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the current switching state of a transmitting station 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.