Patent Application
20160295515
The present invention relates generally to communication systems.
A battery in a mobile device carries a charge. The battery charge and drain rate are currently measurable at some mobile devices. However, this information is typically not known by network elements.
Handing off to other base stations consumes more mobile unit battery power than remaining at a current base station due to the powering up of multiple radios. Multiple handoffs of a mobile unit with low battery power can consume enough power of the mobile unit that the mobile unit runs out of battery power and will not be functional until the battery is recharged or replaced.
Therefore, a need exists for a way to allow handoffs of mobile units without consuming too much power from the battery of the mobile unit.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for a determination of whether a mobile unit should handoff based upon the battery level and battery drain of the mobile unit battery. The battery level and battery drain are sent from the mobile unit to a base station. The base station uses this information to determine whether the mobile unit should power up or power down LTE-U and/or WiFi radio connections/services. In addition, this information allows the base station to determine whether the mobile unit should handoff between LTE-L and LTE-U base stations, in order to control power consumption of the mobile unit and prolong the battery life of the mobile unit.
The base station preferably calculates the transmitting power for LTE-L/LTE-U per channel/path and compares this required power level with the status of the battery level and battery drain rate of the mobile unit, with different level thresholds, to control the power and battery life for the mobile unit.
In addition, with power control calculations, the base station is developed with new methods and able to mute some cells, such as LTE-L and LTE-U base stations, using coordinated scheduling, in order to prolong the battery life of the mobile unit.
Wireless network 100 is a wireless communication network that provides subscribers the ability to place and receive calls to other communication units. Network 100 can utilize any wireless network protocol, including but not limited to 3G, WCDMA, CDMA2000, LTE and WiMAX.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, wireless network 100 authorizes carrier grade WiFi. Carrier grade WiFi can preferably belong to any third parties equipped with carrier grade functions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, wireless network 100 sets the priority of authorized WiFi which are in the vicinity of multiple small cells or macro cells.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, wireless network 100 provisions a list of authorized WiFi candidate cells into a handover candidate list. The cells can be small cells, macrocells, or both. The list can be static or dynamic. Small cells preferably know the coverage and transmit power strength of WiFi transmitters in the list. In LTE systems, small cells can shift data service to authorized WiFi for LTE service.
Base station 104 is preferably a macro Evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB). Base station 104 provides radio coverage within a macrocell 194 using licensed spectrum. Base station 104 is a wireless base station that communicates with mobile units within macrocell 194 and connects the mobile units to the land-line network for call completion. Base station 104 preferably includes a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, and memory.
Metro eNBs 102 and 112 each comprise a small, low-power cellular base station. Metro eNBs can alternately be referred to as small cells.
In an exemplary embodiment, carrier grade WiFi is integrated within metro eNBs 102 and 112. Alternately, carrier grade WiFi is standalone and co-located with metro eNBs 102 and 112.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, metro eNBs 102 and 112 each include three coverage areas: a carrier-grade WiFi coverage area, a metro LTE eNB unlicensed carrier coverage area, and a metro LTE eNB licensed carrier coverage area. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
Mobile unit 103 includes an interface, a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, and memory. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, base station 104 sends Request Report Message 201 to mobile unit 103. Request Report Message 201 is a request for mobile unit 103 to report the battery level and the drain rate of the battery in mobile unit 103. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, base station 104 sets a time window and report interval, with a timer or the like.
Mobile unit 103 sends Battery Measurement Message 203 to base station 104 in response to Request Report Message 201. Battery Measurement Message 203 preferably includes the current battery level and drain rate of mobile unit 103. Base station 104 retrieves the battery level and drain rate from Battery Measurement Message 203.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, base station 104 utilizes the battery level and drain rate to analyze the status and trend of battery usage of mobile unit 103. Base station 104 preferably determines a threshold value at which base station 104 will instruct mobile unit 103 to disable LTE-U and WiFi connections. In addition, base station 104 can utilize the threshold value to determine whether to instruct mobile unit 103 whether mobile unit 103 should handoff between LTE-L and LTE-U base stations.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, base station 104 can utilize any combination of battery status and additional characteristics to determine the threshold value. Battery status preferably includes the battery level and the drain rate of the battery in the mobile unit. Additional characteristics preferably include required transmitting power, signal-to-noise ratio, and smart charging.
Base station 104 sends Instruction Message 205 to mobile unit 103. Instruction Message 205 preferably includes an enable LTE-U flag and an enable WiFi flag. If the enable LTE-U flag is set to Yes, it indicates that base station 104 wants to instruct mobile unit 103 to enable LTE-U connections and service, and if the enable LTE-U flag is set to No, it indicates that base station 104 wants to instruct mobile unit 103 to disable LTE-U connections and services. If the enable WiFi flag is set to Yes, it indicates that base station 104 wants to instruct mobile unit 103 to enable WiFi connections and service, and if the enable WiFi flag is set to No, it indicates that base station 104 wants to instruct mobile unit 103 to disable WiFi connections and services.
Mobile unit 103 receives Instruction Message 205. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, if the enable LTE-U flag is set to Yes, mobile unit 103 enables LTE-U radio service. If the enable LTE-U flag is set to No, mobile unit 103 disables LTE-U radio service. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, if the enable WiFi flag is set to Yes, mobile unit 103 enables WiFi radio connections and services. If the enable WiFi flag is set to No, mobile unit 103 disables WiFi radio connections and services. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, mobile unit 103 notifies the user of mobile unit 103 with the battery level status and enabling or disabling of LTE-U and WiFi services.
In addition, base station 104 preferably utilizes the threshold to determine whether mobile unit 103 has sufficient battery power to handoff to an LTE-L or LTE-U base station. In an exemplary embodiment, if a WiFi connection requires higher transmitting power and the battery level of mobile unit 103 is under a threshold level, base station 104 will instruct mobile unit 103 not to handover to the WiFi connection regardless of the status of the WiFi connection, such as the WiFi connection providing superior signaling, greater coverage area, or charges a lower tariff.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, total transmitting power of mobile unit 103 is calculated per all of LTE-L, LTE-U and WiFi channels. Each channel path loss is preferably calculated individually. Each channel transmitting power is a summation of nominal power, which is a function of target SINR and interference level, and path loss, which may consider the fractional power control (FPC).
Base station 104 sends power control value message 207 to mobile unit 103. Power control value message 207 preferably includes the power control value for each channel or path available, such as the LTE-L paths, the LTE-U paths, and the WiFi paths.
While this invention has been described in terms of certain examples thereof, it is not intended that it be limited to the above description, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow.
