An Energy-Efficient Coverage Algorithm for Macrocell—Small Cell Network Systems

• Main Author: Yao-Liang Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-09-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: efficiency; energy saving; coverage holes; small cells; next-generation cellular systems
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1319

The energy efficiency of a macrocell base station (MBS) can be substantially improved via the deployment of small cell base stations (SBSs) within the coverage area of the MBS. Moreover, this approach is expected to remain a key feature of communication network markets in the future. However, little research has been conducted to uncover effective solutions to the issue of coverage holes (i.e., specific locations or areas in which a user is not able to get an adequate signal from the wireless network) that may occur in the context of such a network architecture. To address this dearth of relevant research, the present study proposes an energy-efficient coverage algorithm utilizing novel system configurations, for use in such macrocell—small cell network systems. The goal of the proposed algorithm is providing the maximum possible reduction of the combined power consumed by the transceivers of all the BSs (that is, the SBSs and the MBS), while simultaneously guaranteeing the provision of comprehensive wireless signal coverage to users under various scenarios. In order to accomplish this aim in an efficient manner, the algorithm smartly adjusts the power levels of all the SBSs in a given system, including the full deactivation of a previously active SBS, or the activation of a previously inactive SBS, according to the dynamics of the given network traffic, thereby modifying their power consumption as necessary. The results for simulations of various test scenarios indicated that the algorithm exhibits better performance than two conventional methods in terms of its overall effects on coverage, power usage, and average transmission rate. The simulated power savings yielded by the proposed algorithm were particularly notable, as it garnered an improvement as high as 78% under the condition of light traffic volumes.