Controlling energy consumption of a wireless network node
An arrangement for controlling energy consumption of a network node associated with a cell includes a terminal activity monitor configured to detect active terminals served by the cell. A transmission controller is connected to the terminal activity monitor and is configured to restrict transmission downlink in the cell during time periods when there are no active terminals served by the cell. During these time periods transmission is restricted to intermittent transmission of information assisting active terminals not served by the cell in finding the cell.
1. A method of operating a radio terminal comprising:
performing a first cell search over a plurality of frequencies; and
performing, if the first cell search fails, a second cell search in which the search duration on each frequency is extended relative to the first cell search, such that the extended search duration is longer than an idle time period for base stations in Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) mode.
2. A radio terminal comprising a cell search unit configured to operate in one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the cell search unit configured to:
perform a first cell search over a plurality of frequencies when configured to operate in the first operating mode; and
perform a second cell search when configured to operate in the second operating mode,
wherein the search duration on each frequency during the second operating mode is extended relative to the first cell search, such that the extended search duration is longer than an idle time period for base stations in Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) mode.
3. The radio terminal of claim 2 , wherein the cell search unit is configured to perform the second cell search if the first cell search fails.