Radio network node and method for reducing energy consumption in a wireless communications network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022158717-A1
Application number	US-201917602834-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Apr 17, 2019
Publication date	May 19, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method performed by a radio network node for reducing energy consumption in communications with wireless devices is provided. The radio network node includes a dual-polarized antenna array, which dual-polarized antenna array has a first sub-set antenna array and a second sub-set antenna array for communication with the wireless devices. The radio network node decides whether to (a) deactivate or (b) not deactivate the second sub-set antenna array, to reduce the energy consumption, based on ongoing communications in the radio network node with wireless devices. The first sub-set antenna array and the second sub-set antenna array have a total antenna pattern that has a deviation that is below a threshold value.

First claim

1 . A method performed by a radio network node for reducing energy consumption in communications with wireless devices in a wireless communication network, wherein the radio network node comprising a dual-polarized antenna array, which dual-polarized antenna array comprises a first sub-set antenna array and a second sub-set antenna array for communication with the wireless devices, the method comprising:
deciding whether to (a) deactivate or (b) not deactivate the second sub-set antenna array, to reduce the energy consumption, based on ongoing communications in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network, the first sub-set antenna array and the second sub-set antenna array having a total antenna pattern that has a deviation that is below a threshold value.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
when (a) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is below a threshold value, deactivating the second sub-set antenna array and transmitting data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array; and when (b) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is above a threshold value, transmitting the data and control information from the second sub-set antenna array.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein (a) is decided, and wherein:
the transmitting of the data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array comprises transmitting the data in one part of the first sub-set antenna array and control information in the other part of the first sub-set antenna array.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein (a) is decided, and wherein components of the first sub-set antenna array are a part of components of the dual-polarized antenna array, and wherein the components of the first sub-set antenna array are frequently changed to become another part of the components of the dual-polarized antenna array, and wherein:
the transmitting of the data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array is performed divided into time intervals from the first sub-set antenna array, each time interval using a changed part of the components of the dual-polarized antenna array.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
when (b) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is below a threshold value, transmitting the data from all parts of the second sub-set antenna array and the control information from a part of the second sub-set antenna array.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second sub-set antenna array is a part of the first sub-set antenna array.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-set antenna array is smaller than the second sub-set antenna array.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-set antenna array is a prototype array and the second sub-set antenna array is an extended array.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control information comprises any one out of: Synchronization Signal Block transmission, System Information transmission, paging, Random Access Response transmissions and broad-case services.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . A radio network node for reducing energy consumption in communications with wireless devices in a wireless communication network, the radio network node comprising a dual-polarized antenna array, which dual-polarized antenna array comprises a first sub-set antenna array and a second sub-set antenna array for communication with the wireless devices, wherein the radio network node is configured to:
decide whether to (a) deactivate or (b) not deactivate the second sub-set antenna array, to reduce the energy consumption, based on ongoing communications in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network, wherein the first sub-set antenna array and the second sub-set antenna array having total antenna pattern that has a deviation that is below a threshold.

13 . The radio network node according to claim 12 , further is configured to:
when (a) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is below a threshold value, deactivate the second sub-set antenna array and transmit data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array; and when (b) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is above a threshold value, transmit the data and control information from the second sub-set antenna array.

14 . The radio network node according to claim 13 , wherein (a) is adapted to be decided, and wherein the network node further is configured to:
transmit the data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array by transmitting the data in one part of the first sub-set antenna array and control information in the other part of the first sub-set antenna array.

15 . The radio network node according to claim 13 , wherein (a) is configured to be decided, and wherein components of the first sub-set antenna array are a part of components of the dual-polarized antenna array, and wherein the components of the first antenna array are configured to be frequently changed to become another part of the components of the dual-polarized antenna array, and wherein the network node further is configured to:
transmit the data and control information from the first sub-set antenna array divided into time intervals from the first sub-set antenna array, each time interval using a changed part of the components of the dual-polarized antenna array.

16 . The radio network node according to claim 13 , further is configured to:
when (b) is decided based on that the ongoing data traffic in the radio network node with wireless devices in the wireless communication network is below a threshold value, transmit the data from all parts of the second sub-set antenna array and the control information from a part of the second sub-set antenna array.

17 . The radio network node according to claim 12 , wherein the second sub-set antenna array is a part of the first sub-set antenna array.

18 . The radio network node according to claim 12 , wherein the first sub-set antenna array is smaller than the second sub-set antenna array.

19 . The radio network node according to claim 12 , wherein the first sub-set antenna array is a prototype array and the second sub-set antenna array is an extended array.

20 . The radio network node according to claim 12 , wherein the control information comprises any one out of: Synchronization Signal Block transmission, System Information transmission, paging, Random Access Response transmission and broadcast services.

21 . The radio network node according to claim 13 , wherein the second sub-set antenna array is a part of the first sub-set antenna array.

22 . The radio network node according to claim 13 , wherein the first sub-set antenna array is smaller than the second sub-set antenna array.

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Frenger Pål
• Fröberg Olsson Jonas

Classifications

• H04W28/02

  Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control · CPC title

• H04B7/0874 Primary

  using subgroups of receive antennas · CPC title

• H01Q21/06

  Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart · CPC title

• H01Q3/24

  varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title