CELL SITE POWER CONSERVATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for facilitating wireless communications, comprising:
- a cell site configured to selectively employ at least five power conservation features from multiple power conservation features based, at least in part, on a power source availability status, wherein the cell site comprises;
a power interface configured to provide power to the cell site from a power source;
a back-up power circuit configured to provide power to the cell site based, at least in part, on the power source availability status; and
a tiltable antenna configured to facilitate the wireless communications of the cell site, and wherein the multiple power conservation features include;
a) selective tilting of the tiltable antenna site;
b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level of the cell site;
c) selective control of a communications bit rate;
d) transfer of communications to adjacent cell sites;
e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the adjacent cell sites; and
f) reallocation of communications between radios and logical slots of the cell site; and
an operations and maintenance center (OMC) configured to communicate with and control the operations of the cell site and the other cell sites.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for conserving power in a communications system such as a communications service cell site. The methods include adjusting the RF coverage of the cell site antenna, selective control of the RF output transmit power, selective control of the communications bit rate, transfer of communications to other cell sites, adjustment of indicators such that mobile devices transfer communications to other cell sites, and reallocation of logical slots between radios in the cell site.
135 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating wireless communications, comprising:
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a cell site configured to selectively employ at least five power conservation features from multiple power conservation features based, at least in part, on a power source availability status, wherein the cell site comprises; a power interface configured to provide power to the cell site from a power source; a back-up power circuit configured to provide power to the cell site based, at least in part, on the power source availability status; and a tiltable antenna configured to facilitate the wireless communications of the cell site, and wherein the multiple power conservation features include; a) selective tilting of the tiltable antenna site; b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level of the cell site; c) selective control of a communications bit rate; d) transfer of communications to adjacent cell sites; e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the adjacent cell sites; and f) reallocation of communications between radios and logical slots of the cell site; and an operations and maintenance center (OMC) configured to communicate with and control the operations of the cell site and the other cell sites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for facilitating wireless communications with a wireless telecommunications cell site, wherein the cell site includes an antenna, comprising:
a cell site controller configured to selectively employ at least one of multiple power conservation features based, at least in part, on a power source availability status, wherein the multiple power conservation features include; a) selective adjustment of an RF coverage of the antenna; b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level; c) selective control of a communications bit rate; d) transfer of communications with associated mobile devices to neighboring cell sites; e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the neighboring cell sites; and f) selective employment of a broadcast control channel (BCCH) radio to transmit voice traffic. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of conserving power in a wireless communications cell site having a radio and associated telecommunications components, the method comprising:
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detecting an availability status of a power source; determining if a first condition has been met, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions; i) a duration during which the power source availability status has indicated a reduced availability; ii) a quantity of cell sites for which associated power source availability statuses indicate reduced availabilities; iii) a status of a back-up power supply of the cell site; and iv) a telecommunications traffic load of the cell site; and enabling at least one power conservation feature of a first set of power conservation features, wherein the first set of power conservation features includes one or more of the following; a) selective adjustment of an RF coverage of an antenna; b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level; c) selective control of a communications bit rate; d) transfer of communications to neighboring cell sites; e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the neighboring cell sites; and f) reallocation of communications between radios and logical slots of the cell site. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A tangible processor-readable medium for executing a method of conserving power in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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detecting an availability status of a power source; determining if a first condition has been met, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions; i) a duration during which the power source availability status has indicated a reduced availability; ii) a quantity of cell sites for which associated power source availability statuses indicate reduced availabilities; iii) a status of a back-up power supply of the cell site; and iv) a telecommunications traffic load of the cell site; and enabling a first set of power conservation features, wherein the first set of power conservation features includes one or more of the following; a) selective adjustment of an RF coverage of an antenna; b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level; c) selective control of a communications bit rate; d) transfer of communications to neighboring cell sites; e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the neighboring cell sites; and f) reallocation of communications between radios and logical slots of the cell site. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A system for facilitating wireless communications, comprising:
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means for detecting a reduced availability of a power source; means for determining if a first condition has been met, wherein the first condition includes one or more of the following conditions; i) a duration during which the power source availability status has indicated a reduced availability; ii) a quantity of cell sites for which associated power source availability statuses indicate reduced availabilities; iii) a status of a back-up power supply of the cell site; and iv) a telecommunications traffic load of the cell site; and means for enabling a first set of power conservation features, wherein the first set of power conservation features includes one or more of the following; a) selective adjustment of an RF coverage of an antenna; b) selective control of an RF output transmit power level; c) selective control of a communications bit rate; d) transfer of communications to neighboring cell sites; e) adjustment of indicators such that associated mobile devices transfer communications to the neighboring cell sites; and f) reallocation of communications between radios and logical slots of the cell site. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification