Characterization and optimization of the power consumption in wireless access networks by taking daily traffic variations into account

In this study, a power consumption model as a function of the traffic is developed for macrocell base stations based on measurements on an actual base station. This model allows us to develop energy-efficient wireless access networks by combining the Green radio access network design (GRAND) tool designed by the authors, which develops an always-on network with a minimal power consumption for a predefined area, and an algorithm that introduces power reducing techniques in the network such as sleep modes and cell zooming. Green-field deployments and optimization of existing networks are investigated. For a green-field deployment, it was found that introducing sleep modes and cell zooming in the network can reduce the power consumption by up to 14.4% compared to the network without sleep modes and cell zooming. Optimizing existing networks by applying GRAND (without sleep modes and cell zooming) results in a power consumption reduction of 34.5% compared to the original network. A careful selection of base station locations already results in a significant energy saving. Introducing sleep modes and cell zooming to the current networks results in a saving of 8%. Sleep modes and cell zooming are promising energy-saving techniques for future wireless networks

Performance Analysis of Adaptive Location Update Schemes for Continuous Cell Zooming Algorithm in Wireless Networks

To reduce the transmitted power of base stations in mobile wireless networks, continuous cell zooming algorithm is a feasible dynamic cell zooming algorithm. In this algorithm, location management is required in order to know the locations of users. Movement-based Update is not compatible and the application of Convention Periodic Update (CPU) scheme in continuous cell zooming algorithm can lead to a high signaling cost. Thus, aiming to highlight the effectiveness of newly proposed location update schemes, Time-Adaptive Periodic Update (TAPU) and Location-Adaptive Periodic Update (LAPU), a simulation-based performance analysis is conducted. Applying in continuous cell zooming algorithm, the performances of TAPU and LAPU are compared to that of Convention Periodic Update (CPU) scheme in terms of transmitted power ratio, outage ratio and the number of update messages. The performances of TAPU and LAPU are analyzed in a network with different number of users and in a network with different average moving speeds of users. The results show that compared to CPU, both TAPU and LAPU have no significant effect on power saving capability of continuous cell zooming algorithm in every scenario. Meanwhile, LAPU and TAPU give a significant reduction of update messages in every scenario. In terms of QoS effect, LAPU gives approximately the same outage ratio as CPU and a higher outage ratio occurs in TAPU

An Overview of Cell Zooming Algorithms and Power Saving Capabilities in Wireless Networks

Cell zooming has emerged as a potential strategy to develop a green communication system in our society and it has become an essential research area of wireless communication. Aiming to highlight the trend of existing cell zooming algorithms and their power saving capabilities, this paper reviews a number of cell zooming algorithms that have been proposed in the literature. Static cell zooming algorithms are effective for off-peak hours and their maximum power saving capability is 50% since off-peak duration is typically not more than 12 hours.Meanwhile dynamic cell zooming algorithms are applicable in full-day operation and they are useful not only for power saving but also for load balancing. However, on/off switching delay, signalling overhead due to traffic information exchange and how to attain information of traffic spatial distribution are existing challenges in dynamic cell zooming algorithms. One noticeable point is that relative power saving in dynamic cell zooming algorithm is less than 50% if traffic spatial distribution is considered. Since location management (LM) was designed for effectively servicing to customers, further researches could lead to work on location management (LM) based cell zooming algorithms for both effective servicing and energy saving

Energy Efficient Relay-Assisted Cellular Network Model using Base Station Switching

Cellular network planning strategies have tended to focus on peak traffic scenarios rather than energy efficiency. By exploiting the dynamic nature of traffic load profiles, the prospect for greener communications in cellular access networks is evolving. For example, powering down base stations (BS) and applying cell zooming can significantly reduce energy consumption, with the overriding design priority still being to uphold a minimum quality of service (QoS). Switching off cells completely can lead to both coverage holes and performance degradation in terms of increased outage probability, greater transmit power dissipation in the up and downlinks, and complex interference management, even at low traffic loads. In this paper, a cellular network model is presented where certain BS rather than being turned off, are switched to low-powered relay stations (RS) during zero-to-medium traffic periods. Neighbouring BS still retain all the baseband signal processing and transmit signals to corresponding RS via backhaul connections, under the assumption that the RS covers the whole cell. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of this new BS-RS Switching technique from both an energy saving and QoS perspective, in the up and downlinks

Green Cellular Networks: A Survey, Some Research Issues and Challenges

Energy efficiency in cellular networks is a growing concern for cellular operators to not only maintain profitability, but also to reduce the overall environment effects. This emerging trend of achieving energy efficiency in cellular networks is motivating the standardization authorities and network operators to continuously explore future technologies in order to bring improvements in the entire network infrastructure. In this article, we present a brief survey of methods to improve the power efficiency of cellular networks, explore some research issues and challenges and suggest some techniques to enable an energy efficient or "green" cellular network. Since base stations consume a maximum portion of the total energy used in a cellular system, we will first provide a comprehensive survey on techniques to obtain energy savings in base stations. Next, we discuss how heterogeneous network deployment based on micro, pico and femto-cells can be used to achieve this goal. Since cognitive radio and cooperative relaying are undisputed future technologies in this regard, we propose a research vision to make these technologies more energy efficient. Lastly, we explore some broader perspectives in realizing a "green" cellular network technologyComment: 16 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

Cell sleeping for energy efficiency in cellular networks: Is it viable?

An approach advocated in the recent literature for reducing energy consumption in cellular networks is to put base stations to sleep when traffic loads are low. However, several practical considerations are ignored in these studies. In this paper, we aim to raise questions on the feasibility and benefits of base station sleeping. Specifically we analyze the interference and capacity of a coverage-based energy reduction system in CDMA based cellular networks using a simple analytical model and show that sleeping may not be a feasible solution to reduce energy consumption in many scenarios. © 2012 IEEE

Maximizing Profit in Green Cellular Networks through Collaborative Games

In this paper, we deal with the problem of maximizing the profit of Network Operators (NOs) of green cellular networks in situations where Quality-of-Service (QoS) guarantees must be ensured to users, and Base Stations (BSs) can be shared among different operators. We show that if NOs cooperate among them, by mutually sharing their users and BSs, then each one of them can improve its net profit. By using a game-theoretic framework, we study the problem of forming stable coalitions among NOs. Furthermore, we propose a mathematical optimization model to allocate users to a set of BSs, in order to reduce costs and, at the same time, to meet user QoS for NOs inside the same coalition. Based on this, we propose an algorithm, based on cooperative game theory, that enables each operator to decide with whom to cooperate in order to maximize its profit. This algorithms adopts a distributed approach in which each NO autonomously makes its own decisions, and where the best solution arises without the need to synchronize them or to resort to a trusted third party. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through a thorough experimental evaluation considering real-world traffic traces, and a set of realistic scenarios. The results we obtain indicate that our algorithm allows a population of NOs to significantly improve their profits thanks to the combination of energy reduction and satisfaction of QoS requirements.Comment: Added publisher info and citation notic

Multihop Relay Station and 3 sector Cell Zooming usage for Base Station Energy Saving

Projecte final de carrera fet en col.laboració amb Tsinghua UniversityEnglish: A new approach for energy saving in wireless communications is defined. Two different methods to cover a turned off Base Station area in case of low traffic loads are combined; Cell Zooming, in which the other base stations are used to increase the coverage and serve the turned off area. And multihop Relay coverage, which uses relays in multihop relay communications to cover the off zone. The results show that, while keeping the quality of service for the users, the combination of both methods prove a better performance in terms of energy saving than the separate usage of each method.Castellano: Se explica un nuevo método de ahorro energético en comunicaciones wireless formada mediante la combinación de otros dos métodos ya estudiados; por un lado la utilización de relays en comunicaciones multihop cuando, buscando ahorrar energía, una estación base en condiciones de poca carga es parada; "Multihop Relay Coverage". Y, por otro lado, la utilización del resto de estaciones base para ampliar la cobertura a la región donde ha sido parada la estación base; "Cell Zooming". Se demuestra que la combinación de ambos métodos permite obtener un rendimiento óptimo de la red y, al mismo tiempo, conlleva un ahorro energético superior al obtenido utilizando los dos métodos por separado.Català: S'explica una nova tècnica d'estalvi energètic en comunicacions wireless formada mitjançant la combinació de dues tècniques ja estudiades; la utilització de relays en comunicacions multihop quan, per tal d'estalviar energia, s'atura una estació base en condicions de baixa carrega; "Multihop Relay Coverage". I la utilització de la resta d'estacions base per tal d'ampliar la cobertura a la zona que ha estat aturada; "Cell Zooming". Es demostra que la combinació d'aquestes dues tècniques permet mantenir un rendiment òptim i oferir un estalvi energètic superior al que pot oferir la utilització d'aquestes tècniques per separat. Se explica un nuevo método de ahorro energético en comunicaciones wireless formada mediante la combinación de otros dos métodos ya estudiados; la utilización de relays en comunicaciones multihop cuando, buscando ahorrar energía, una estación base en condiciones de poca carga es parada; "Multihop Relay Coverage". Y la utilización del resto de estaciones base para ampliar la cobertura a la región donde ha sido parada la estación base; Cell Zooming. Se demuestra que la combinación de ambos métodos permite obtener un rendimiento óptimo de la red y, al mismo tiempo, conlleva un ahorro energético superior al obtenido utilizando los dos métodos por separado