JP6034239B2 - Communication relay device and sleep control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication relay device and a sleep control method.

  In recent years, wireless communication systems using a wireless LAN or the like have become widespread as access means to the Internet. A configuration example of a wireless communication system is shown in FIG. The wireless communication system includes a base station 30, m (m: integer) wireless terminals 40-1 to 40 -m connected to the base station through a wireless line (channel # 1), a backbone network such as the Internet 10, It comprises a communication relay network 20 that connects the base station and the Internet, and a communication relay device 21 that constitutes the network. The wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m transmit and receive data called packets and exchange information through the Internet 10.

  In this configuration example, the plurality of wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m use the wireless line (channel # 1) jointly to multiplex and transmit / receive packets. When the wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m transmit a packet to the Internet 10, the transmitted packet is delivered to the Internet 10 via the base station 30 and the communication relay device 21. When the wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m receive packets from the Internet 10, the reverse route is taken.

  With the spread of smartphones and tablet terminals, the number of wireless terminals connected to a wireless communication system is increasing. In a wireless system such as a wireless LAN, as described above, a wireless line is used jointly and transmission and reception are performed by packet multiplexing. Therefore, when the number of wireless terminals connected to the base station increases, throughput decreases due to packet collision. In order to prevent this decrease in throughput, in the wireless communication system of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 12, n base stations 30-1 to 30-n (n: an integer equal to or larger than 2) are installed to form a base station. The number of connected units per unit is reduced, and the load on each base station is distributed.

JP 2002-185458 A

  However, in the configuration in which the load distribution of traffic is performed by installing a plurality of base stations in Patent Document 1, when the number of wireless terminals that can be connected to the base station is small, no wireless terminals are connected as shown in FIG. The base station 30-n exists and consumes power wastefully (Case 1). In such a case, the base station 30-n to which no wireless terminal is connected may temporarily stop (sleep) to reduce power consumption.

  However, as shown in FIG. 14, the connection of the wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m is concentrated on one base station 30-1, and there is a base station 30-n to which no wireless terminal is connected. (Case 2) has a problem that when the base station 30-n to which no wireless terminal is connected stops, traffic load distribution cannot be performed. That is, since each base station cannot know the number of wireless terminals connected to each other and cannot distinguish between Case 1 and Case 2, a base station to which no wireless terminal is connected can decide by itself. When the user sleeps, the load continues to concentrate on the base station # 1 (30-n).

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above points, and stops the radio base station consuming wasteful power while distributing the traffic load to a plurality of base stations, thereby reducing the radio communication system. The purpose is to reduce power consumption.

  In the communication relay device according to the present invention, the communication relay device is arranged between a plurality of base stations connectable to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line and a backbone network, and relays traffic between the backbone network and the base station. Communication relay means for receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of the base stations, and determination means for determining whether the information on the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition; Instruction means for instructing at least one of the base stations to stop, start up, or conceal based on a determination result of the determination means.

  The determination means determines whether the number of terminals connected to any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value. And the instruction means instructs to stop at least one of the base stations that are not connected among the active base stations based on the determination result of the determination means, and the base station that is stopped or concealed. Activation instruction for at least one, base station where the number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value, or at least one of a plurality of base stations when the total number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value At least one of the concealment instructions may be issued.

  The instructing means is activated when the number of terminals connected to any base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined value. You may make it instruct | indicate a stop with respect to at least 1 of the base stations with which the terminal which is not connected among the existing base stations.

  The communication relay means receives information on the traffic volume at each base station from each of the base stations, or measures the traffic volume for each base station at the base station, and the determination means has a predetermined traffic volume. It may be determined whether the condition is satisfied, and the instruction unit may instruct at least one of the plurality of base stations to stop, start, or conceal based on a determination result of the determination unit.

  The determination means determines whether the traffic volume of any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total traffic volume in a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value, and the instruction means determines the determination Based on the determination result of the means, a stop instruction for at least one base station that is not connected to a base station that is active, a start instruction for at least one base station that is stopped or concealed, At least one of the concealment instructions for the base station whose traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value or at least one of the plurality of base stations when the total traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value is performed. Also good.

  When the traffic volume of any base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the total traffic volume at a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the instructing unit is connected among the active base stations. You may make it instruct | indicate a stop with respect to at least 1 of the base station without the terminal which has.

  In the sleep control method according to the present invention, a communication relay device arranged between a plurality of base stations connectable to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line and a backbone network includes the backbone network and the base Relaying traffic between stations, receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of the base stations, determining whether the information on the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition, Based on the determination result, at least one of the base stations is instructed to stop, start or hide.

  The communication relay apparatus determines whether the number of terminals connected to any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value Then, based on the determination result, a stop instruction for at least one base station having no connected terminal among the activated base stations, a start instruction for at least one of the base stations being stopped or concealed In the concealment instruction for at least one of the base stations in which the number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value or the total number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value, At least one instruction may be given.

  The communication relay device is activated when the number of terminals connected to any base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined value. You may make it instruct | indicate a stop with respect to at least 1 of the base stations which are not connected among the base stations currently connected.

  Whether the communication relay apparatus receives traffic volume information at each base station from each of the base stations, or measures the traffic volume for each base station at the base station, and whether the traffic volume satisfies a predetermined condition. The determination may be made and at least one of the plurality of base stations may be instructed to stop, start, or conceal based on the determination result.

  The communication relay apparatus determines whether the traffic volume of any one base station exceeds a predetermined value or whether the total traffic volume of a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value, and based on the previous determination result, The stop instruction for at least one base station that is not connected among the active base stations, the start instruction for at least one of the base stations that are stopped or concealed, and the traffic amount have a predetermined value. You may make it perform at least 1 instruction | indication among the instruction | indications of concealment with respect to at least 1 of several base station when the total of the base station which exceeded or the traffic amount exceeds a predetermined value.

  The communication relay device is connected among the active base stations when the traffic volume of any base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the total traffic volume at a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined value. You may make it instruct | indicate a stop with respect to at least 1 of the base station without the terminal which has.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the radio | wireless terminal which is consuming useless electric power can be stopped, performing the load distribution of the traffic with respect to several base stations, and the reduction in power consumption of a radio | wireless communications system can be achieved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication relay device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of a criterion for determining whether or not to stop or start the base station according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of the base station according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of the base station when there is no concealment mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of the base station when there is a concealment mode according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the base station according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of the base station in the control procedure of the base station according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when a PON system is used in the communication relay network of the wireless communication system of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wireless communication system. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wireless communication system. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wireless communication system. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wireless communication system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The wireless communication system of FIG. 1 includes n (n: integer) base stations 30-1 to 30-n and m (m: integer) connected to the base stations via wireless lines (channels # 1 to #n). ) Wireless terminals 40-1 to 40-m, a backbone network such as the Internet 10, a communication relay network 20 for connecting the base station and the Internet, and a communication relay device 21 constituting the same.

  Here, the base station has two operation modes of “stop” and “start”. “Stopped” refers to a state in which the power of the base station is off, but is a state in which a minimum power that can be restarted when receiving a “startup” instruction from the communication relay device is consumed. On the other hand, “activation” refers to a state in which the base station is powered on and can communicate with the wireless terminal and the Internet. The communication relay device 21 collects information on the number of wireless terminals connected to each of the base stations 30-1 to 30-n using the control packet, and based on the obtained information on the number of connected terminals, It is characterized by determining whether the base station base stations 30-1 to 30-n should be stopped or started, and instructing each base station base station 30-1 to 30-n to stop or start using the control packet. is there.

  As the communication relay device 21, for example, a configuration in which a device connected “directly” to the base station, such as a switch, a server, or a router, controls sleep of the base station is conceivable.

  In this configuration example, first, the number of wireless terminals to which each of the base stations 30-1 to 30-n is connected is reported to the communication relay device 21 using a control packet at regular intervals. The communication relay device 21 that has received the report determines conditions regarding the number of connected terminals for determining whether to stop or start the base station in advance, and is connected to each of the base stations 30-1 to 30-n. Based on the number of wireless terminals, it is determined whether or not each base station 30-1 to 30-n should be stopped or started, and a control packet is transmitted to each base station 30-1 to 30-n to instruct stop or start. . This control packet includes a “stop” instruction when transitioning to the “stop” state, and an “start” instruction when transitioning to the “activation” state. Each base station 30-1 to 30-n performs stop or start processing in accordance with the received control packet instruction.

  A configuration example of the communication relay device in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The communication relay device 21 includes a communication relay unit 22 that relays communication between the base station and the Internet and transmits / receives control packets to / from the base station, and a sleep control unit 23. The sleep control unit 23 receives control packets from the communication relay unit 22 in the interface unit, and collects information on the number of terminals connected to each base station. The determination unit determines whether to stop or start each base station based on the information, and the instruction unit instructs the base station to stop or start based on the determination result. In this configuration example, the interface unit, the determination unit, and the instruction unit are connected by a signal bus, and the determination unit and the instruction unit are computers equipped with a CPU. The determination process and the stop or activation instruction process are executed by software loaded in the computer.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of determination criteria for determining whether the base stations 30-1 to 30-n should be stopped or started in the sleep control unit 23. Here, a case where an instruction is issued to the base station of number n (#n) will be described as an example. When the number of terminals connected to the base station #n is 0 and the base station #n is “activated”, the communication relay device determines that the base station #n should be stopped, A control packet in which the “stop” instruction is described is transmitted to the base station #n. On the other hand, the number of wireless terminals connected to any one of the base stations (# 1 to # n-1) other than the base station #n exceeds a preset threshold (Th1), and When the base station #n is “stopped”, it is determined that the base station #n should be activated, and a control packet in which an instruction of “activation” is described is transmitted to the base station #n.

  In this way, a base station that determines that the base station with 0 connected wireless terminals should be stopped in principle, instructs “stop”, and consumes unnecessary power. To reduce power consumption. On the other hand, when the number of wireless terminals connected to any one of the other base stations exceeds a preset threshold value (Th1), a start instruction is given to the base station that has stopped. Control to give priority to load distribution of traffic.

  Also, when there are multiple base stations to be stopped and multiple base stations to be started, the trade-off between power consumption reduction and traffic load distribution in the multiple base stations is determined, and the base station to be stopped or started is determined appropriately. You just have to do it. It is conceivable that this stop or start control is performed at regular intervals. In that case, both a condition to be stopped and a condition to be activated may be satisfied during one control span for one base station. In this embodiment, priority is given to the activation instruction.

  Also, the number of terminals connected to the active base station is zero and the number of wireless terminals connected to any other base station so that both conditions are not satisfied during one control span. Also, the stop may be instructed when it is equal to or less than a preset threshold value (Th1).

  In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the communication relay apparatus and the base station exchange control packets at regular intervals, but the timing of exchanging control packets is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which control packets are exchanged only when the number of terminals connected to the base station has changed may be used. The same applies to other embodiments.

  In the present embodiment, an example of a criterion for the communication relay device to transmit a “stop” or “start” control packet to each base station is shown, but the criterion is not limited to this. For example, as an example of a determination criterion for transmitting a “stop” control packet, when the total value of wireless terminals connected to all base stations or a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined criterion (Th2) In addition, an example in which a “stop” control packet is transmitted to a base station without a connected wireless terminal is conceivable. On the other hand, as an example of the criterion for transmitting the “startup” control packet, the total number of wireless terminals connected to all base stations or a plurality of base stations exceeds a preset criterion (Th3) In addition, an example in which a “startup” control packet is transmitted to a base station that is stopped may be considered.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication relay apparatus receives information on the number of terminals connected from each base station and determines whether to stop or start each base station based on the information. Information on the traffic amount of all terminals connected from the station, for example, information on the number of transmitted / received packets may be received, and it may be determined whether to stop or start based on the information.

  For example, when the number of terminals connected to the base station #n is 0 and the base station #n is “activated”, it is determined that the base station #n should be stopped as described above. However, the number of packets of any one of the base stations (# 1 to # n-1) other than the base station #n exceeds a preset threshold, and the base station #n If it is “stopped”, the base station #n determines that it should be activated, and transmits a control packet in which an instruction of “activation” is described to the base station #n.

  Even when the traffic volume is used, if the total traffic volume of all base stations or multiple base stations falls below a preset standard, the base station with no wireless terminal connected is ”Or a base station that is stopped when the total number of wireless terminals connected to all base stations or a plurality of base stations exceeds a preset standard. Alternatively, a “startup” control packet may be transmitted.

  The information on the traffic volume (number of packets) may be measured by the base station and transmitted to the communication relay device, or may be measured by the communication relay unit of the communication relay device.

  As described above, the communication relay device collects information on the number of terminals connected to each base station and the traffic volume, so that there is a base station to which no wireless terminal is connected and wastes power. If the base station is not connected to the wireless terminal (case 1) and the connection of the wireless terminal is concentrated on a specific base station (case 2), the base station is identified. According to the present invention for determining whether a base station should be stopped or started, it is possible to stop a wireless terminal that consumes wasted power while considering traffic load distribution. Can be realized.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the operation cost by reducing power consumption and centralized management of communication relay devices, and simplifying the function by not determining whether the base station should be stopped, There are also effects such as improvement in manufacturing ease and cost reduction.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication relay apparatus controls the sleep by exchanging control packets with each base station. However, for example, a dedicated signal line may be used. The same applies to other embodiments.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that each base station has a “concealment” operation mode, and the communication relay device transmits a control packet instructing each base station to “conceal”.

  In the first embodiment, the base station has two operation modes of “stop” and “start”. Furthermore, the timing to issue a “stop” instruction to the base station is when the number of wireless terminals connected to the base station is zero. This is because a base station to which even one wireless terminal is connected cannot be “stopped”. The wireless terminal can freely select a base station to which it is connected from the connectable base stations. In the first embodiment, only when there is a base station in which the number of wireless terminals that are accidentally connected is 0, the corresponding base station can be stopped to reduce power consumption. When there are a large number of nodes, the existence probability of a base station with 0 connected terminals may be low. The second embodiment relates to a method in which a large number of base stations in which the number of connected wireless terminals is zero exist in order to improve the low power consumption effect due to sleep.

  In the present embodiment, each base station has “concealment” as the third operation mode, and the communication relay apparatus instructs each base station to “conceal”. When each base station is instructed to “hide”, it stops signal transmission for a new connection called a beacon and cannot establish a new connection with the wireless terminal. In this case, in the concealed base station, the number of connected wireless terminals gradually decreases as the connected wireless terminals spontaneously disconnect as the communication ends, and the number of wireless terminals that are finally connected Becomes 0 and the operation mode can be set to “stop”.

  A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows an outline of the operation of the base station in the present embodiment. First, when the number of wireless terminals connected to the active base station exceeds a preset threshold value (Th), the base station that has been activated transitions to the “hidden” operation mode according to an instruction from the communication relay device. Thereafter, the wireless terminals connected to the base station are gradually disconnected, and when the number of wireless terminals connected finally becomes 0, the operation mode of “stop” is set according to an instruction from the communication relay device. When the number of wireless terminals connected to other base stations increases, the communication relay device issues a “concealment” instruction to the other base stations, and Issues a “startup” instruction and transitions to the “startup” operation mode again.

  The operation using the “concealment” mode as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows an example when there is no “hidden” mode, and FIG. 7 shows an example when there is a “hidden” mode. 6 and 7, the number of base stations is two (base stations # 1, # 2), and when the number of connected wireless terminals exceeds a threshold (Th = 9), the active base station is in the “hidden” mode. Or the base station in the “stop” state is activated.

  First, at time T1, the base station # 1 is “stopped”, the base station # 2 is “started”, and the wireless terminals connected to the two base stations are 0. Here, when the time elapses from T1 to T2, ten wireless terminals are connected to the base station # 2. Here, since the threshold (Th) is 9, in FIG. 6, the base station # 1 is also “activated” while the base station # 2 is in the “activated” state. On the other hand, in FIG. 7, the base station # 2 transitions to the “hidden” mode and the base station # 1 is “activated”.

  Next, when the time elapses from T2 to T3, in both FIGS. 6 and 7, four wireless terminals are newly connected to base station # 1, and eight wireless terminals are disconnected from base station # 2. The Thereafter, when the time elapses from T3 to T4, two wireless terminals newly connect to the base station # 2 in FIG. 6, and the base station # 2 wishes to connect in the “hidden” mode in FIG. Since the presence of the wireless terminal is not visible, the two wireless terminals newly connect to the base station # 1.

  When the time elapses from T4 to T5, in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, three new wireless terminals are connected to base station # 1 and two wireless terminals are disconnected from base station # 2. Suppose that In this case, the total number of wireless terminals connected to base station # 1 and base station # 2 at time T5 is 9 in both FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, but the number of connected base stations is 0 in FIG. However, in FIG. 7, the number of connected base stations # 2 is zero.

  In this way, by introducing the “concealment” mode into the operation mode of the base station, the connection destination of the newly connected wireless terminal is limited, the probability that there is a base station with 0 connected units is improved, and sleep A low power consumption effect can be enhanced.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a procedure in which the communication relay apparatus issues an instruction to “stop”, “start”, and “hide” to each base station based on the number of connected base stations in this embodiment. In this procedure, as shown in FIG. 9, only one of the n base stations 30-1 to 30-n connected to the communication relay device 21 is in the “activated” state, and the remaining n−1 units are It is an example of a procedure for setting a “stop” state or a “hide” state.

  First, the communication relay device 21 activates only the base station #n (30-n) (S1). Next, the communication relay device 21 confirms whether or not there is a concealed base station with the number of connected devices being 0 based on a control packet reported from each base station 30-1 to 30-n (S2). If there is a corresponding base station, the communication relay device 21 transmits a control packet describing a “stop” instruction to the corresponding base station (S3), and returns to S2.

  If there is no corresponding base station, the communication relay device 21 sets in advance the number of connected terminals of the active base station from the information on the number of connected terminals transmitted from each of the base stations 30-1 to 30-n. It is determined whether the threshold value (Th) is greater (S4). If there is no corresponding base station, the process returns to S2. If there is a corresponding base station, a control packet for instructing “hidden” is transmitted to the corresponding base station (S5). Then, it is confirmed whether or not there is a base station in the “stop” state (S6). If there is a corresponding base station, a control packet in which a “start” instruction is transmitted is transmitted to at least one of the base stations. Return to S2 (S7), and if there is no corresponding base station, do nothing and return to S2.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a base station in the “hidden” state transitions to the “activated” state through the “stopped” state, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the communication relay apparatus may issue an instruction so that the base station in the “hidden” state transitions to the “activated” state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a control packet in which a “concealment” instruction is described is transmitted to a base station whose number of connected devices exceeds a preset threshold value. The criteria to be issued are not limited to this. For example, when the total value of the number of connected base stations exceeds a preset threshold value, an instruction of “concealment” may be issued to the base station with the largest number of connected base stations. .

  In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication relay apparatus receives information on the number of terminals connected from each base station and determines whether to stop, start or hide each base station based on the information. Information on the traffic volume of all terminals connected from a station, for example, information on the number of packets being transmitted and received may be received, and based on the information, it may be determined whether to stop, activate, or hide.

  For example, in the above-described procedure example, when the number of connected terminals of the active base station is larger than a preset threshold (Th), a control packet instructing “concealment” is transmitted to the corresponding base station, When the control packet instructing the “activation” is transmitted to the base station, but the traffic volume is used, the traffic volume of the active base station, for example, when the packet volume is larger than a preset threshold (Th), An example is conceivable in which a control packet for instructing “concealment” is transmitted to the base station, and a control packet for instructing “activation” is transmitted to the base station being stopped.

  Even when the traffic volume is used, if the total traffic volume of a plurality of base stations exceeds a preset threshold value, an instruction to conceal is given to the base station with the largest traffic volume. It may be.

  The information on the traffic volume (number of packets) may be measured by the base station and transmitted to the communication relay device, or may be measured by the communication relay unit of the communication relay device.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when a PON (Passive Optical Network) system is used as a communication relay network in the wireless communication system of the present invention.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the communication relay apparatus connected directly to the base station, such as a switch, a server, and a router, is a configuration example that controls sleep of the base station. However, the device for controlling sleep of the base station in the present invention is not limited to a device directly connected to the base station, and any device belonging to a communication relay network between a base station and a backbone network such as the Internet. Any device may do it. In the present embodiment, a configuration example in the case of using a PON system as a communication relay network connecting the Internet and a base station will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration example when a PON system is used as a communication relay network of a wireless communication system. The PON system includes an OLT (Optical Line Terminal) 24, a plurality (x) ONUs (Optocal Network Units), an optical fiber 27 and an optical splitter 26 that connect the OLT 24 and the plurality of ONUs 1: x. Is done. In this configuration example, two ONUs (ONU # 1, ONU # 2) (25-1 to 25-2) are connected to the OLT 24. A backbone network such as the Internet is connected to the OLT 24, and n base stations are connected to each ONU.

  In the present embodiment, the sleep of each base station may be controlled by the OLT or each ONU. When each ONU controls, it can be controlled by the same configuration as the first embodiment or the second embodiment, but each ONU sleeps only to the base station directly connected to itself. Control cannot be performed. That is, when each ONU controls, sleep can be controlled only from the viewpoint of optimizing the power consumption of n base stations connected to each ONU. On the other hand, when the OLT controls, a plurality of base stations (2 × n units) connected to a plurality of ONUs under its control can be controlled simultaneously.

  As a result, it becomes possible to control sleep so as to optimize the power consumption of the entire wireless system under the OLT 24, and further lower power consumption compared to the first and second embodiments. Can be realized. When the OLT controls the sleep of all the base stations, each ONU forwards a control packet for notifying the number of connected terminals transmitted from the base station to the OLT, while stopping and starting from the OLT. Etc. are transferred to the destination base station.

  As in the first and second embodiments, this embodiment also receives information on the traffic volume of all terminals connected from each base station, such as the number of packets being transmitted and received, and It may be determined whether to stop, start, or conceal based on the information, and information on the traffic volume (number of packets) may be measured by the base station and transmitted to the OLT or ONU, or may be measured by the OLT or ONU by itself. It may be.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether each base station should be stopped, started, or concealed in consideration of the situation such as the number of connected terminals and traffic volume in a plurality of base stations. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the wireless communication system by stopping the wireless base station that consumes useless power while distributing the traffic load to a plurality of base stations.

  The present invention can be applied to a wireless system in which a wireless base station that consumes useless power is stopped to reduce power consumption.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Internet, 20 ... Communication relay network, 21 ... Communication relay apparatus, 22 ... Communication relay part, 23 ... Sleep control part, 24 ... OLT, 25-1-25-2 ... ONU, 26 ... Optical splitter, 27 ... Light Fiber, 30, 30-1 to 30-2n ... Base station, 40, 40-1 to 40-m + 2 ... Wireless terminal

Claims (8)

It is arranged between a plurality of base stations and a backbone network that can be respectively connected to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line,
Relaying means for relaying traffic between the backbone network and the base station, and receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of the base stations,
Determining means for determining whether the information of the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition;
An instruction means for instructing at least one of the base stations based on a determination result of the determination means to stop, start, or conceal that new connection with the wireless terminal cannot be performed , and
The determination means determines whether the number of terminals connected to any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value. ,
The instructing means is based on the determination result of the determining means, a base station in which the number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value, or a plurality of cases where the total number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value Instruct concealment for at least one of the base stations, and instruct stop for at least one of the concealed base stations with no connected terminal
A communication relay device characterized by the above . The instructing means conceales when the number of terminals connected to any base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations is equal to or less than a predetermined value. communication relay apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop instruction with respect to that at least one of the terminal is not a base station that connects the base stations that are. It is arranged between a plurality of base stations and a backbone network that can be respectively connected to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line,
Relaying means for relaying traffic between the backbone network and the base station, and receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of the base stations,
Determining means for determining whether the information of the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition;
Instruction means for instructing at least one of the base stations to be stopped, activated, or concealed incapable of new connection with the wireless terminal based on a determination result of the determination means;
With
The communication relay means receives traffic volume information at each base station from each of the base stations, or measures the traffic volume for each base station at the base station,
The determination means determines whether the traffic volume of any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total traffic volume in a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value ,
The instructing unit is configured to conceal at least one of a base station whose traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value or a plurality of base stations when the total traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value based on a determination result of the determination unit. instructions to perform concealment to which the connected terminal communication relay apparatus you and performing an instruction to stop for at least one of no base station among the base stations. The instructing means is connected to a concealed base station when the traffic volume of any base station is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, or when the total traffic volume at a plurality of base stations is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The communication relay device according to claim 3 , wherein a stop instruction is issued to at least one of the base stations having no terminal. A communication relay device disposed between a plurality of base stations and a backbone network, each of which can be connected to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line, relays traffic between the backbone network and the base station; Receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of them, and determining whether the information on the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition,
Instructing at least one of the base stations based on the determination result to either stop, start up or conceal that cannot be newly connected to the wireless terminal ,
The communication relay apparatus determines whether the number of terminals connected to any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value And
Based on the determination result, concealment for at least one of the base stations in which the number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value or the total number of connected terminals exceeds a predetermined value And instruct to stop at least one of the concealed base stations with no connected terminal
A sleep control method characterized by the above . The communication relay device conceals when the number of terminals connected to any base station is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, or when the total number of terminals connected to a plurality of base stations is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The sleep control method according to claim 5 , wherein a stop instruction is issued to at least one of the base stations having no connected terminal among the connected base stations. A communication relay device disposed between a plurality of base stations and a backbone network, each of which can be connected to a plurality of wireless terminals via a wireless line, relays traffic between the backbone network and the base station; Receiving information on the number of terminals connected to the base station from each of them, and determining whether the information on the number of connected terminals satisfies a predetermined condition,
Instructing at least one of the base stations based on the determination result to either stop, start up or conceal that cannot be newly connected to the wireless terminal,
The communication relay device receives information on the amount of traffic in each base station from each of the base stations, or measures the amount of traffic for each base station in the base station,
Determining whether the traffic volume of any one base station exceeds a predetermined value, or whether the total traffic volume in a plurality of base stations exceeds a predetermined value ;
Based on the determination result, a concealment instruction is given to at least one of the base stations whose traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value or a plurality of base stations when the total traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value. features and to Luz Leap control method that instructs to stop against it has at least one of the terminal is not a base station that connects the base stations that are. The communication relay device is connected to a concealed base station when the traffic volume of any base station is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, or when the total traffic volume at a plurality of base stations is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The sleep control method according to claim 7 , wherein a stop instruction is issued to at least one of the base stations having no terminal.

Images