Patent Description:
Communication networks consume significant amount of energy. As data amounts and data speeds increase, the energy consumption increases, too. On the other hand, for environmental reasons, there is a desire to optimize energy consumption. In order to make educated decisions on management of the network there is a need to know energy consumption in different parts of the network.

A simple solution is to use electricity meters to measure consumed energy, but this is not always possible. There may be for example one electricity meter that measures energy that is consumed by a network site that may comprise a plurality individually and independently managed equipment sections. Owner of the site may for example rent one or more equipment sections to other parties. In such case, one operator owns the site and rents equipment space to other operators, whereby the site may comprise a plurality of base stations and other network equipment of different operators. The site may be otherwise divided into separately managed equipment sections, too. Nevertheless, one electricity meter typically measures energy consumption of the whole site. In such case, default energy consumption of the devices in different equipment sections can be used as a basis for estimating energy consumption of respective equipment sections, but such estimates are not accurate and may lead in that changes in energy consumption of individual sections of the site go unnoticed. <CIT> discloses a communication network site shared by operators. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose conventional energy measurements of such communication network sites. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose that energy consumption of a particular device can be determined from a total energy consumption of multiple devices by powering the particular device off and on.

Now a new approach is provided for analyzing energy consumption in multi-operator sites.

Any devices and/or methods in the description and/or drawings which are not covered by the claims are examples useful for understanding the invention.

According to a first example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer implemented method of claim <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises comparing the first estimate of energy consumption to a second, earlier estimate set for the first section, and outputting result of said comparison. The result of the comparison can be used for checking whether the first section operates differently than assumed.

In an embodiment, the detected change is temporary decrease of the first magnitude in total power consumption.

In an embodiment, the maintenance work comprises at least one of: changing physical devices, changing settings in physical devices, adding new physical devices.

In an embodiment, receiving total energy consumption values comprises receiving a plurality of values per day for a period of a plurality of days.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises detecting maintenance work taking place in more than one section, and responsively ignoring the detected change of the total energy consumption.

In an embodiment, detecting the change of the first magnitude in the total energy consumption is performed based on comparison of the total energy consumption value at the first point of time to one or more previous total energy consumption values.

In an embodiment, detecting the change of the first magnitude in the total energy consumption comprises ignoring changes whose magnitude is below a threshold.

In an embodiment, detecting the change of the first magnitude in the total energy consumption comprises ignoring changes whose duration is below a threshold.

In an embodiment, detecting the change of the first magnitude in the total energy consumption comprises confirming that the total energy consumption at the first point of time is above <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the method is periodically repeated.

According to a second example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

According to a third example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program according to claim <NUM>.

The computer program of the third aspect may be a computer program product stored on a non-transitory memory medium.

Example embodiments of the present invention and its potential advantages are understood by referring to <FIG> of the drawings. In this document, like reference signs denote like parts or steps.

Example embodiments of the invention provide energy consumption analysis of a multi-operator communication network site based on changes in total consumed energy and knowledge about maintenance work taking place in different equipment sections of the site. The term multi-operator site refers to an entity that comprises a plurality of individually and independently managed equipment sections. The equipment sections may be for example equipment sections of different network operators or otherwise separately managed equipment sections. Example embodiments are suitable in situations where only total energy consumption of a whole site is available and measured energy consumption of the plurality of individually and independently managed equipment sections is not available or the information is not reliable if available.

During maintenance work respective equipment section is in general shut down. Example embodiments are based on using information about the maintenance work to identify which equipment section causes changes in total energy consumption. If an equipment section is shut down, it does not consume energy and based on this the magnitude of the change in total energy consumption is used as an estimate of energy consumption of respective equipment section. When the equipment section is shut down for maintenance work, there is a decrease in total energy consumption, and when the equipment section is turned on after completion of maintenance work or after completion of setup, there is an increase in total energy consumption. The decrease/increase is usually a stepwise change that can be easily identified.

The maintenance work may comprise at least one of: changing physical devices, changing settings in physical devices, adding new physical devices.

<FIG> shows an example scenario according to an embodiment. The scenario shows a communication network <NUM> comprising a plurality of physical network sites comprising base stations and other network devices, and an automation system <NUM> configured to implement automatic energy consumption analysis according to example embodiments.

In an embodiment of the invention the scenario of <FIG> operates as follows: In phase <NUM>, the automation system <NUM> receives total energy consumption values of a network site. The network site is divided into two or more individually and independently managed equipment sections. The total energy consumption values may be received or collected for example from an electricity meter or from some other system capable of providing the energy consumption values.

In phase <NUM>, the automation system <NUM> analyses the received total energy consumption values and detects a change in the total energy consumption. The change may be a decrease or an increase in the total consumption values. In an embodiment, one or more checks are being made to ensure that the change is significant before proceeding. magnitude and/or duration of the change may be checked. Insignificant changes may be ignored.

Responsive to detecting the change in the total energy consumption, the automation system obtains information about maintenance work taking place in the site. If it is detected that there is maintenance work taking place in a first section of the site substantially at the same time with the change in the total energy consumption, it is concluded that magnitude of the change represents a first estimate of energy consumption of the first section. Substantially at the same time herein refers to that the maintenance work take place during duration of the change in the total energy consumption. The information about the maintenance work may be obtained from an external source such as a database storing such information.

The first estimate is then output, and the output may be used as a basis for further actions. The first estimate may be compared to a second estimate and the result of the comparison may be used as a basis for further actions. The second estimate may be assumed energy consumption. Deviation from the assumed energy consumption may be an indication of wrongly operating equipment and therefore the result of the comparison provides the technical effect of ability to identify malfunctioning equipment section or equipment section that does not work as intended.

It is to be noted that analysis of single site is discussed, but multiple sites may be analysed in parallel. The process may be manually or automatically triggered. Additionally or alternatively, the process may be periodically repeated. The process may be repeated for example once a week, every two weeks, once a month, or every two months. By periodically repeating the process, the estimates of energy consumption automatically adapt to changes in the network load and usage patterns.

Energy consumption values may be collected for a plurality of days and/or a plurality of values per day may be collected. For example, hourly values may be collected.

<FIG> shows an apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment. The apparatus <NUM> is for example a general-purpose computer or server or some other electronic data processing apparatus. The apparatus <NUM> can be used for implementing embodiments of the invention. That is, with suitable configuration the apparatus <NUM> is suited for operating for example as the automation system <NUM> of foregoing disclosure.

The general structure of the apparatus <NUM> comprises a processor <NUM>, and a memory <NUM> coupled to the processor <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> further comprises software <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and operable to be loaded into and executed in the processor <NUM>. The software <NUM> may comprise one or more software modules and can be in the form of a computer program product. Further, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a communication interface <NUM> coupled to the processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may comprise, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit, or the like. <FIG> shows one processor <NUM>, but the apparatus <NUM> may comprise a plurality of processors.

The memory <NUM> may be for example a non-volatile or a volatile memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a data disk, an optical storage, a magnetic storage, a smart card, or the like. The apparatus <NUM> may comprise a plurality of memories.

The communication interface <NUM> may comprise communication modules that implement data transmission to and from the apparatus <NUM>. The communication modules may comprise, e.g., a wireless or a wired interface module. The wireless interface may comprise such as a WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), radio frequency identification (RF ID), GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE (Long Term Evolution) or <NUM> radio module. The wired interface may comprise such as Ethernet or universal serial bus (USB), for example. Further the apparatus <NUM> may comprise a user interface (not shown) for providing interaction with a user of the apparatus. The user interface may comprise a display and a keyboard, for example. The user interaction may be implemented through the communication interface <NUM>, too.

A skilled person appreciates that in addition to the elements shown in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> may comprise other elements, such as displays, as well as additional circuitry such as memory chips, application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), other processing circuitry for specific purposes and the like. Further, it is noted that only one apparatus is shown in <FIG>, but the embodiments of the invention may equally be implemented in a cluster of shown apparatuses.

<FIG> and <FIG> show flow diagrams illustrating example methods according to certain embodiments. The methods may be implemented in the automation system <NUM> of <FIG> and/or in the apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>. The methods are implemented in a computer and do not require human interaction unless otherwise expressly stated. It is to be noted that the methods may however provide output that may be further processed by humans and/or the methods may require user input to start. Different phases shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be combined with each other and the order of phases may be changed except where otherwise explicitly defined. Furthermore, it is to be noted that performing all phases of the flow charts is not mandatory.

The method of <FIG> comprises following phases:.

In an embodiment, before proceeding, one or more checks are being made in phases <NUM> and/or <NUM> to ensure that the change is significant and/or suitable for making estimates. Such checks are discussed in more detail in connection with <FIG>.

Phase <NUM>: It is concluded that the first magnitude represents a first estimate of energy consumption of the first section of the site.

Phase <NUM>: The first estimate of energy consumption is output. The output may be used as a basis for further actions.

Phase <NUM>: In an embodiment, the first estimate is compared to a second, earlier estimate.

Phase <NUM>: The result of the comparison is output. Also this output may be used as a basis for further actions.

The further actions in phases <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise for example updating energy consumption estimates, identifying anomalies in energy consumption, adjusting spare power requirements etc. Still further, the first estimate and/or the result of the comparison may be used for identifying equipment sections that operate differently than assumed. For example, malfunctioning equipment sections may be identified.

Phase <NUM>: The process is repeated for example periodically. The process may be repeated for example once a week, every two weeks, once a month, or every two months.

The method of <FIG> concerns more detailed example relating to checks associated with detecting the change and a process of selectively ignoring certain changes. The method of <FIG> comprises following phases:.

<FIG> shows a graph of an example of daily total energy consumption. The graph shows total energy consumption for a period between <NUM> June <NUM> and <NUM> July <NUM>. The graph shows a dip <NUM> on <NUM> July <NUM> in the total energy consumption. This dip <NUM> is a change that can be detected in an analysis according to example embodiments.

<FIG> shows graphs of example of hourly total energy consumption values. The graphs show hourly values <NUM> for <NUM> consecutive days between <NUM> June <NUM> and <NUM> July <NUM>. The graphs show a dip <NUM> on <NUM> July <NUM> in the total energy consumption, whereas on the other days the consumption graphs are more or less similar. This dip <NUM> is a change that can be detected in an analysis according to example embodiments. Arrow <NUM> illustrates estimated magnitude of the detected change.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is ability to obtain improved estimates of the energy consumption of individual sections of a multi-operator site of a communication network. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that as the estimates are based on actual energy consumption numbers, the estimate reflects actual spent energy that may vary depending on amount of traffic that flows through the equipment of the section of the site. In this way the estimates take into account changes in energy consumption.

Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that as a more accurate estimates of the energy consumption of the individual sections of the sites can be obtained, educated decisions on management of the network can be made. For example, equipment that consumes significant amount of energy can be identified and corrective actions to reduce energy consumption can be made. Additionally or alternatively, management of requirements of spare power sources or cooling equipment can be improved as actual energy consumption is being determined.

Claim 1:
A computer implemented method of energy consumption analysis of a communication network site, the method performed by a computer apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) total energy consumption values of the communication network site, wherein the site is divided into two or more equipment sections that are individually and independently managed by different operators' entities, and the total energy consumption covers energy consumption of the whole site, and
finding out a first estimate of the energy consumption of at least one of the equipment sections by:
detecting (<NUM>) a change of a first magnitude in the total energy consumption at a first point of time,
obtaining (<NUM>), from a source external to the computer apparatus, information about maintenance work taking place in a first equipment section of the communication network site at the first point of time, and
outputting (<NUM>) the first magnitude as the first estimate of the energy consumption of the first equipment section