US-20260129571-A1 - CAPACITY BOOSTER CELL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

US20260129571A1US 20260129571 A1US20260129571 A1US 20260129571A1US-20260129571-A1

Abstract

A capacity booster cell and control method thereof are provided. The capacity booster cell provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus based on an active mode, an energy saving transition mode, and an energy saving mode. In the active mode, the capacity booster cell determines whether to switch to the energy saving transition mode based on a predicted load information. In the energy saving transition mode, the capacity booster cell hands over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus to at least one neighbor cell. In response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, the capacity booster cell is switched to the energy saving mode, wherein the capacity booster cell in the energy saving mode is suspended from providing the communication service.

Inventors

Hsien Tsung HSU
Ping Chang
Wen Yao Chang

Assignees

INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241202
Priority Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

1 . A capacity booster cell, comprising: a communication interface, communicatively connected to a coverage cell; and a processor, electrically connected to the communication interface; wherein the capacity booster cell provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the communication interface based on an active mode, an energy saving transition mode, and an energy saving mode; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active mode, the processor executing the following operation: determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to the capacity booster cell; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving transition mode, the processor executing the following operations: handing over the communication service corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus to at least one neighboring cell, wherein the at least one neighboring cell comprises the coverage cell or a neighboring capacity booster cell corresponding to the capacity booster cell; and in response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving mode, wherein the capacity booster cell in the energy saving mode is suspended from providing the communication service.
2 . The capacity booster cell of claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode further comprises: calculating the predicted load information of the capacity booster cell based on a past load record of the capacity booster cell; and in response to the predicted load information being lower than a first load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode.
3 . The capacity booster cell of claim 1 , wherein in response to determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode, the processor executes the following operations: broadcasting a first barring signal to at least one neighboring terminal apparatus to suspend the communication service for the at least one neighboring terminal apparatus; transmitting a second barring signal to the at least one neighboring cell to reject a handover request corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; in response to receiving the handover request from the at least one neighboring cell, returning a cancel handover signal to the at least one neighboring cell; and after broadcasting the first barring signal and transmitting the second barring signal, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode.
4 . The capacity booster cell of claim 1 , wherein the operation of handing over the communication service corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus further comprises: distributing the at least one terminal apparatus to the at least one neighboring cell respectively based on at least one trajectory prediction corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus to generate a distribution result; transmitting at least one handover request to the at least one neighboring cell based on the distribution result; receiving a handover response corresponding to the at least one handover request from the at least one neighboring cell; and handing over the communication service of at least one of the at least one terminal apparatus based on the handover response.
5 . The capacity booster cell of claim 1 , wherein in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving transition mode, the processor further executes the following operations: in response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, transmitting a notification signal to the at least one neighboring cell to make the at least one neighboring cell to remove the capacity booster cell from a neighboring cell list; and after completing transmitting the notification signal, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving mode.
6 . A capacity booster cell, comprising: a communication interface, communicatively connected to a coverage cell; and a processor, electrically connected to the communication interface; wherein the capacity booster cell provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the communication interface based on an energy saving mode, an active transition mode, and an active mode; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving mode, the processor executing the following operations: suspending the communication service; and determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to the coverage cell; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active transition mode, the processor executing the following operations: transmitting a handover invitation to the coverage cell; receiving a handover request corresponding to the handover invitation from the coverage cell, wherein the handover request corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus; and determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode based on the handover request to provide the communication service for the at least one terminal apparatus.
7 . The capacity booster cell of claim 6 , wherein the operation of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode further comprises: calculating the predicted load information of the coverage cell based on a past load record of the coverage cell; and in response to the predicted load information being higher than a second load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode.
8 . The capacity booster cell of claim 6 , wherein the handover request is generated through the following operations: calculating a handover load corresponding to the capacity booster cell based on at least one location information corresponding to at least one surrounding terminal apparatus; and generating the handover request based on the handover load.
9 . The capacity booster cell of claim 6 , wherein the handover request is generated through the following operations: calculating at least one predicted location of at least one surrounding terminal apparatus based on at least one past load record of the at least one surrounding terminal apparatus; and calculating a handover load corresponding to the capacity booster cell based on the at least one predicted location to generate the handover request.
10 . The capacity booster cell of claim 6 , wherein the operation of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode further comprises: in response to a handover load in the handover request being higher than a third load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode.
11 . A control method, being adapted for use in a capacity booster cell, wherein: the control method provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the capacity booster cell based on an active mode, an energy saving transition mode, and an energy saving mode; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active mode, the control method comprises the following step: determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to the capacity booster cell; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving transition mode, the control method comprises the following steps: handing over the communication service corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus to at least one neighboring cell, wherein the at least one neighboring cell comprises a coverage cell or a neighboring capacity booster cell corresponding to the capacity booster cell; and in response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving mode, wherein the capacity booster cell in the energy saving mode is suspended from providing the communication service.
12 . The control method of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode further comprises: calculating the predicted load information of the capacity booster cell based on a past load record of the capacity booster cell; and in response to the predicted load information being lower than a first load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode.
13 . The control method of claim 11 , wherein in response to determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode, the control method further comprises the following steps: broadcasting a first barring signal to at least one neighboring terminal apparatus to suspend the communication service for the at least one neighboring terminal apparatus; transmitting a second barring signal to the at least one neighboring cell to reject a handover request corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; in response to receiving the handover request from the at least one neighboring cell, returning a cancel handover signal to the at least one neighboring cell; and after broadcasting the first barring signal and transmitting the second barring signal, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode.
14 . The control method of claim 11 , wherein the step of handing over the communication service corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus further comprises: distributing the at least one terminal apparatus to the at least one neighboring cell respectively based on at least one trajectory prediction corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus to generate a distribution result; transmitting at least one handover request to the at least one neighboring cell based on the distribution result; receiving a handover response corresponding to the at least one handover request from the at least one neighboring cell; and handing over the communication service of at least one of the at least one terminal apparatus based on the handover response.
15 . The control method of claim 11 , wherein in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving transition mode, the control method further comprises the following steps: in response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, transmitting a notification signal to the at least one neighboring cell to make the at least one neighboring cell to remove the capacity booster cell from a neighboring cell list; and after completing transmitting the notification signal, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving mode.
16 . A control method, being adapted for use in a capacity booster cell, wherein: the control method provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the capacity booster cell based on an energy saving mode, an active transition mode, and an active mode; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving mode, the control method comprises the following steps: suspending the communication service; and determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to a coverage cell; in response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active transition mode, the control method comprises the following steps: transmitting a handover invitation to the coverage cell; receiving a handover request corresponding to the handover invitation from the coverage cell, wherein the handover request corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus; and determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode based on the handover request to provide the communication service for the at least one terminal apparatus.
17 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the step of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode further comprises: calculating the predicted load information of the coverage cell based on a past load record of the coverage cell; and in response to the predicted load information being higher than a second load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode.
18 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the handover request is generated through the following steps: calculating a handover load corresponding to the capacity booster cell based on at least one location information corresponding to at least one surrounding terminal apparatus; and generating the handover request based on the handover load.
19 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the handover request is generated through the following steps: calculating at least one predicted location of at least one surrounding terminal apparatus based on at least one past load record of the at least one surrounding terminal apparatus; and calculating a handover load corresponding to the capacity booster cell based on the at least one predicted location to generate the handover request.
20 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the step of determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode further comprises: in response to a handover load in the handover request being higher than a third load threshold, determining to switch the capacity booster cell to the active mode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 113142172, filed November 4, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Field of Invention The present disclosure relates to a capacity booster cell and control method thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an energy efficient capacity booster cell and control method thereof. Description of Related Art With the development of communication technology, mobile communication technology has been applied to many services. Therefore, telecom operators have supported more frequency bands, larger bandwidth, more antennas, and denser networks to cope with market demand. According to research, the energy consumed by mobile communication networks is mainly to maintain wireless networks, and the energy consumption of base stations accounts for the largest proportion. Therefore, base station energy saving has always been a research focus in the field of mobile communication network energy saving. In the standards set by 3GPP, the capacity booster cell (CBC) can hand over the connected user equipment (UE) to other base stations and switch to energy saving mode in order to reduce energy consumption when the load is decreased. On the other hand, coverage cells (CC) are used to provide wider signal coverage. When the load of the coverage cell increases, the communication services of some user equipment can be handed over to the capacity booster cell within the coverage area for load distribution. However, in the existing energy saving mode switching mechanism, there are the following problems: (1) when the capacity booster cell hands over its own traffic to other base stations and switches to the energy saving mode, causing other base stations to be overloaded, the capacity booster cell still has to be reactivated to share overloaded traffic, causing the capacity booster cell to switch on and off repeatedly; (2) when two adjacent capacity booster cells hand over user equipment to each other at the same time for entering into energy saving mode, neither of them is able to clear the load and switch to energy saving mode. In view of this, how to avoid the above conflict situation and enable the capacity booster cell to switch to an energy saving mode is the goal that the industry strives to work on. SUMMARY The disclosure provides a capacity booster cell comprising a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface is communicatively connected to a coverage cell. The processor is electrically connected to the communication interface. The capacity booster cell provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the communication interface based on an active mode, an energy saving transition mode, and an energy saving mode. In response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active mode, the processor executing the following operation: determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the energy saving transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to the capacity booster cell. In response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving transition mode, the processor executing the following operations: handing over the communication service corresponding to the at least one terminal apparatus to at least one neighboring cell, wherein the at least one neighboring cell comprises the coverage cell or a neighboring capacity booster cell corresponding to the capacity booster cell; and in response to completing handing over the communication service of the at least one terminal apparatus, switching the capacity booster cell to the energy saving mode, wherein the capacity booster cell in the energy saving mode is suspended from providing the communication service. The disclosure further provides a capacity booster cell comprising a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface is communicatively connected to a coverage cell. The processor is electrically connected to the communication interface. The capacity booster cell provides a communication service for at least one terminal apparatus via the communication interface based on an energy saving mode, an active transition mode, and an active mode. In response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the energy saving mode, the processor executing the following operations: suspending the communication service; and determining whether to switch the capacity booster cell to the active transition mode based on a predicted load information corresponding to the coverage cell. In response to the capacity booster cell being switched to the active transition mode, the processor executing the following operations: transmitting a handover invitation to the coverage cell; receiving a handover request corresponding to the handover invitation from the coverage cell, wherein the handover request corresponding to t