US 8,554,224 B2Granted

Cellular network energy saving

AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated

InventorsSamir S. Soliman, Olufunmilola O. Awoniyi, Osok Song, Jangwon Lee, Miguel Griot, Ramachandran Subramanian

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Abstract

Various arrangements for managing wireless network communication are described. Two cells using different radio access technologies (RATs), such as a 3G cell and a 4G cell, may provide overlapping coverage. A first cell using a first RAT, under certain circumstances, may be permitted to enter a powered down state such that less power is consumed. User equipment may communicate with the cell using the second RAT as the preferred network and only communicate with the cell using the first RAT when a service available through the first RAT but not the second RAT has been requested. Upon a request from the second cell, the first cell may enter a powered up state.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A system for managing wireless network communication, the system comprising:

a first cell that uses a first radio access technology (RAT), the first cell having a powered up state and a powered down state, the first cell configured to:
transmit and receive data with a plurality of UEs;
based on a first set of one or more predefined conditions, enter the powered down state wherein the first cell consumes less power in the powered down state than in the powered up state;
and
based on a second set of one or more predefined conditions, enter the powered up state, wherein the first cell consumes more power in the powered up state than in the powered down state;
and
a second cell using a second RAT, configured to:
communicate with the first cell;
provide wireless service to the plurality of UEs at least when the first cell that uses the first RAT is in the powered down state;
and
transfer at least one UE of the plurality of UEs to use the first cell when the first cell is in the powered up state,
wherein the first set of one or more predefined conditions comprises a condition that none of the plurality of UEs is using a service supported by the first RAT but not the second RAT.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/070,398Filed 23 Mar 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Mar 2010
Published: US 2011/0237257 A129 Sep 2011
Granted: 8 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04W 36/165
Performing reselection for specific purposes: for reducing network power consumption
H04W 52/0206
In the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks: in access points, e.g. base stations
H04W 36/14
Hand-off or reselection arrangements: reselecting a network or an air interface
H04W 52/0274
Managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level: by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof

Family

Application61/317,273Us provisional application · filed 24 Mar 2010
Application61/327,784Us provisional application · filed 26 Apr 2010
Application61/394,595Us provisional application · filed 19 Oct 2010
US 2011/0237257 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Sep 2011
US 8,554,224 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.