IP Library › Granted Patent US 12689942
Granted Patent B2
US 12689942 · App. 18/588,388 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Energy awareness in cellular communication networks

Inventors: Berthold Panzner (Munich, DE); Laurent Goix (Massy, FR)
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
H04W28/0917H04W24/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12689942
App. No.
18/588,388
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising determining, by an apparatus, a cellular communication network providing at least one service flow for the apparatus, receiving by the apparatus, from the network, energy-related information about the network, wherein said energy-related information is associated with the at least one service flow and determining by the apparatus, based at least in part on said information, whether to adapt the at least one service flow.

Claims (52)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine a cellular communication network providing at least one service flow for the apparatus;

receive, from the network, energy-related information about the network, wherein said energy-related information is associated with the at least one service flow; and

determine, based at least in part on said information, whether to adapt the at least one service flow;

wherein said energy-related information associated with the at least one service flow comprises at least one of an indication about a type of an energy supply of the network, an energy ratio of the network or a level of energy efficiency of the at least one service flow provided by the network; and

wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

determine, when the type of the energy supply of the network is non-renewable, at least one of the at least one service flow that is non-critical; and

pause the at least one non-critical service flow.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the type of the energy supply indicates at least whether the energy supply of the network is renewable or non-renewable.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the type of the energy supply is wind powered, solar powered, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, nuclear or fossil.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the energy ratio of the network indicates a percentage of energy supply of the network that is from renewable energy supply or non-renewable energy supply.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the level of energy efficiency of the at least one service flow indicates energy consumption of the at least one service flow as a unit of energy per bit.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

receive the at least one indication as a service flow indicator.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said energy-related information comprises information about a current or expected energy supply of the network.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

determine, based at least in part on a criticality of the at least one service flow, whether to adapt the at least one service flow.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

determine at least one of the at least one service flow that is critical; and

continue the at least one critical service flow regardless of said energy-related information.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the type of the energy supply is coal, oil or natural gas.

11 . A method, comprising:

determining, by an apparatus, a cellular communication network providing at least one service flow for the apparatus;

receiving by the apparatus, from the network, energy-related information about the network, wherein said energy-related information is associated with the at least one service flow; and

determining by the apparatus, based at least in part on said information, whether to adapt the at least one service flow;

wherein said energy-related information associated with the at least one service flow comprises at least one of an indication about a type of an energy supply of the network, an energy ratio of the network or a level of energy efficiency of the at least one service flow provided by the network; and

the method further comprises:

determining, when the type of the energy supply of the network is non-renewable, at least one of the at least one service flow that is non-critical; and

pausing the at least one non-critical service flow.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the indication of the type of the energy supply indicates at least whether the energy supply of the network is renewable or non-renewable.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the type of the energy supply is wind powered, solar powered, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, nuclear or fossil.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the indication of the energy ratio of the network indicates a percentage of energy supply of the network that is from renewable energy supply or non-renewable energy supply.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the indication of the level of energy efficiency of the at least one service flow indicates energy consumption of the at least one service flow as a unit of energy per bit.

16 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

receive the at least one indication as a service flow indicator.

17 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the type of the energy supply is coal, oil or natural gas.

18 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

determining at least one of the at least one service flow that is critical; and

continuing the at least one critical service flow regardless of said energy-related information.

19 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine a cellular communication network providing at least one service flow for the apparatus;

receive, from the network, energy-related information about the network, wherein said energy-related information is associated with the at least one service flow;

determine, based at least in part on said information, whether to adapt the at least one service flow;

determine at least one of the at least one service flow that is critical; and

continue the at least one critical service flow regardless of said energy-related information.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the stored instructions further cause, when executed by the at least one processor, the apparatus at least to:

determine, when the type of the energy supply of the network is non-renewable, at least one of the at least one service flow that is non-critical; and

pause the at least one non-critical service flow.