Energy-Saving Mechanisms in a Heterogeneous Radio Communication Network

摘要

There is provided support mechanisms for at least one adding and removing a cell from operation in a heterogeneous radio network having a first type of basic cell for providing basic radio coverage and a second type of cell associated to a basic cell as a capacity enhancing cell. A capacity enhancing cell is selectively switched on and off. When the capacity enhancing cell is shut down the cell does not exist over the air while cell configuration information is kept. When the capacity enhancing cell is switched on the cell becomes available again over the air interface. An indication of shut-down and a wake-up call message for switch-on of the capacity enhancing cell are communicated between a base station serving the capacity enhancing cell and a base station serving the basic cell. In this way energy savings can be supported without disrupting service availability.

主权项

1. A method of operating a base station serving a basic cell providing basic radio coverage, said basic cell having a neighbour cell relation to an associated capacity enhancing cell served by another base station, said method comprising the steps of:
the base station serving the basic cell receiving an indication on the Radio Network Layer (RNL) in the X2 Application Protocol (X2AP) that the associated capacity enhancing cell is shut off over the air for energy saving purposes, and keeping corresponding cell configuration information, wherein when shut off the capacity enhancing cell does not provide radio coverage and does not provide radio signal transmissions, and wherein the another base station serving the capacity enhancing cell remains on when the capacity enhancing cell is shut off; and the base station serving the basic cell sending a wake-up call message on the Radio Network Layer (RNL) in the X2 Application Protocol (X2AP) to the another base station serving the associated capacity enhancing cell when it is decided that the base station serving the basic cell needs the capacity enhancing cell to return operational.