Method, apparatus and system for updating discontinuous reception configuration in wireless device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method for updating a discontinuous reception configuration in a wireless device, the wireless device being connected to a wireless network node, the method comprising the steps of: receiving (300) a configuration message from the network node during a first active period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message at least comprises a time offset parameter; scheduling (301) a second active time period during a next inactive time period based on the received time offset; and receiving (302) downlink data from the network node during the second active time period. The disclosure also envisages an apparatus, a user equipment, a network node and a wireless system suitable for implementing the method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to discontinuous reception (DRX) in wireless networks, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for updating and configuring discontinuous reception configuration in user equipment. Background Art

[0002] In order to limit power consumption in LTE (Long Term Evolution), 5G or NR (New Radio) telecommunication systems, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) introduced the DRX (Discontinuous Reception) mode.

[0003] Because downlink data may arrive at any time, the user equipment (UE) needs to continuously monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to check whether there is downlink data available. This consumes a lot of power.

[0004] DRX allows the UE to reduce power consumption by discontinuously receiving the PDCCH: the UE periodically goes to sleep for a certain period of time (off duration) when not monitoring the PDCCH, and then wakes up during another period of time (on duration) to monitor the PDCCH for possible downlink data. Thus, DRX enables reduced power consumption.

[0005] The UE and the network need to be synchronized to avoid the network trying to send data while the UE is in sleep state. To this end, the network configures the UE with a set of DRX parameters, including the "onDurationTimer" and "inactivityTimer" defined in the 3GPP specification TS 38.321. When the DRX period starts, the UE remains active for a time period called the "on period", which is configured by the "onDurationTimer" parameter. If no PDCCH is received during this time, the UE will enter the DRX sleep state until the next active period. Whenever some activity occurs on the PDCCH during the active period, the UE remains active and keeps monitoring the PDCCH for the duration configured by the "inactivityTimer" parameter.

[0006] When the current activity time expires, the user device must wait for the next activity period to receive further download data. This increases the latency of the activity data traffic and may degrade the user experience and service performance, especially for latency-sensitive services such as XR (augmented reality).

[0007] Therefore, a method for reducing downlink data delay when using DRX is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a wireless communication method for updating a discontinuous reception configuration in a wireless device, the wireless device being connected to a wireless network node, the method comprising:

[0009] receiving a configuration message from the network node during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message including at least a time offset parameter,

[0010] scheduling a second activity time period during a next inactivity time period based on the received time offset,

[0011] During the second activity time period, downlink data is received from the network node.

[0012] Thus, when downlink data is expected during the inactive period, a wireless device (e.g., user equipment, mobile station, etc.) can schedule an additional active period during a previously scheduled inactive period. The wireless device can receive a message in which a network node (e.g., base station, eNodeB, gNodeB, etc.) provides a time offset, which defines the delay after which the additional active period should be scheduled for receiving downlink data. In this way, the proposed method reduces latency by allowing downlink data reception without waiting for the initially configured active period.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the received time offset parameter represents a time delay between a time of reception of said parameter and a start time of said second activity time period.

[0014] The time offset refers to the duration of the delay between receipt of the message comprising the time offset and the start of the additional activity time period.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the received time offset parameter represents a time delay between the end of the first activity time period and the start time of said second activity time period.

[0016] The time offset may refer to the duration of the delay between the end of the current active time period (ie the on-duration of the received time offset parameter) and the start of the additional active time period.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the second active time period is configured to have the same duration as the first active time period.

[0018] The default duration of the additional active time period is equal to the duration of the active time period of the received offset parameter. This avoids transmitting the duration in the configuration message, thereby reducing bandwidth usage.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the received message further comprises a duration parameter for configuring the duration of the second activity time period.

[0020] The duration of the active period is provided in the configuration message along with the time offset parameter. Thus, the base station can fine-tune the downlink monitoring time based on the downlink data expected to be transmitted. This arrangement can reduce power consumption in user equipment.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the step of receiving downlink data comprises extending said second activity time period by a duration corresponding to the time elapsed between a start time of the second activity time period and a reception time of said downlink data.

[0022] In other words, when the user equipment receives the first transmitted downlink data during the scheduled active time period, the additional active time period is restarted (or shifted).

[0023] According to an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of receiving a sleep command for entering an inactive period when no more downlink data is expected from the network node during the second active period.

[0024] When no downlink data is expected to be transmitted, the additional active time period may end before its originally scheduled duration. This may be achieved by receiving a message from the network node that includes a command instructing the user equipment to end the current active period and enter a DRX sleep state until the next active time period. This achieves power savings by preventing the user equipment from monitoring the downlink channel when no downlink data is expected during the current on-duration.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the received configuration message is carried via a MAC CE and / or a physical downlink control channel.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for updating a discontinuous reception configuration in a wireless device connected to a wireless network node is provided, the apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer program instructions stored thereon, the processor being configured by the instructions to perform the following actions:

[0027] receiving a configuration message from the network node during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message including at least a time offset parameter,

[0028] scheduling a second activity time period during a next inactivity time period based on the received time offset,

[0029] During the second activity time period, downlink data is received from the network node.

[0030] The present disclosure further contemplates a user equipment device comprising an apparatus as described above.

[0031] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method, performed by a network node, for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device connected to the network node, the method comprising:

[0032] determining that downlink data for the wireless device is expected during a next inactivity time period configured in the wireless device,

[0033] transmitting a configuration message to the wireless device during a current active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle configured in the wireless device, the message including at least a time offset parameter,

[0034] scheduling a second active time period for the wireless device during the next inactive time period based on the received time offset,

[0035] - during the second activity time period, transmitting downlink data to the wireless device.

[0036] When a network node (e.g., a base station, eNodeB, gNodeB, etc.) determines that downlink data may be available to a wireless device (e.g., a user equipment or mobile station) during the next inactive time period of the wireless device, the additional activity time period may be scheduled on demand by the network node.

[0037] The present disclosure further contemplates a wireless network node for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device connected to the wireless network node, the apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory including computer program instructions stored thereon, the processor being configured by the instructions to perform the following actions:

[0038] determining that downlink data for the wireless device is expected during a next inactivity time period configured in the wireless device,

[0039] transmitting a configuration message to the wireless device during a current active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle configured in the wireless device, the message including at least a time offset parameter,

[0040] scheduling a second active time period for the wireless device during the next inactive time period based on the received time offset,

[0041] During the second activity time period, downlink data is transmitted to the wireless device.

[0042] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system comprising a radio network node and a radio network node as described above.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the steps of the method described above are determined by computer program instructions.

[0044] Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computer program stored on an information medium, the program being suitable for being implemented in a user equipment device and / or a radio network node or more generally in a computer, the program comprising instructions configured to implement the steps of the method for updating discontinuous reception by a wireless device and / or the steps of the method for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device that have just been described.

[0045] The program may use any programming language and may be in the form of source code, object code, or a code intermediate between source code and object code, such as a partially compiled form, or any other desired form.

[0046] Another aspect envisages a computer-readable information medium comprising computer program instructions for implementing the steps of the above-mentioned method.

[0047] The information medium may be any entity or device capable of storing a program. For example, the medium may include a storage device such as a ROM (e.g., a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM), a flash memory, or any magnetic recording device (e.g., a hard disk drive).

[0048] Furthermore, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electric or optical signal that can be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable by radio or by other means.

[0049] Alternatively, the information medium may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embodied, the circuit being adapted to carry out or to be used for carrying out the method in question.

[0050] The advantages of the device, the user equipment, the network node, the wireless system, the computer program and the information medium are the same as presented with respect to the corresponding method according to any of the above-described embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following description, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system in which aspects of the methods disclosed herein may be practiced according to an embodiment,

[0053] Figure 2is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DRX cycle configuration on a user equipment,

[0054] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of a method for updating a discontinuous reception configuration performed by a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0055] Figure 4 shows a DRX configuration including an additional active time period according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0056] Figure 5 shows a DRX configuration including an additional active time period according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0057] Figure 6 illustrates reception of downlink data during an additional active time period configured during a DRX cycle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0058] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating main steps of a method for configuring discontinuous reception in a user equipment, performed by a base station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of an apparatus suitable for implementing a method for updating discontinuous reception in a user equipment according to an embodiment,

[0060] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of an apparatus suitable for implementing a method for configuring discontinuous reception in a user equipment according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The detailed description set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configuration in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In particular, although terminology from 3GPP 5G NR may be used in this disclosure to illustrate the embodiments herein, this should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0062] Figure 1An exemplary 5G New Radio (NR) wireless communication system 100, including user equipment 101 and base station 102, in which aspects of the present disclosure may be practiced, is illustrated. Wireless network 100 may be an LTE network or some other wireless network, such as a 5G or NR network. Wireless network 100 may include one or more network nodes, such as base stations 102. Depending on the implemented wireless standard, network nodes 102 may be referred to as base stations (BSs), nodeBs (NBs), eNodeBs (or eNBs), gNodeBs (or gNBs), access points, etc. Base stations 102 provide radio communication coverage for a specific geographic area, known as a "cell." User equipment 101 may communicate with base station 102 via radio signals to access the core communication network. Base station 102 may communicate with user equipment 101 using downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) radio channels.

[0063] User equipment 101 may be referred to as a mobile station, a wireless terminal, etc. In some examples, user equipment 101 may be a cellular phone, a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, etc. User equipment 101 may also be an IoT (Internet of Things) device like a wireless camera, a smart sensor or smart meter, a vehicle, a global positioning system device, or any other device configured to communicate over a wireless network.

[0064] In the following disclosure, reference will be made to the above reference Figure 1 User equipment 101 and base station 102 are described.

[0065] Figure 2 This figure illustrates the DRX cycle configuration on a user equipment. Discontinuous reception (DRX) is a processing mode in user equipment aimed at reducing power consumption. When using DRX, the user equipment periodically enters an active state (also known as an active period, downlink monitoring period, or on-duration) to receive downlink data and signaling, and then enters a dormant state (also known as an inactive state, inactive period, or off-duration) to stop monitoring downlink data.

[0066] Figure 2 An exemplary DRX cycle configured in a user equipment is shown, the cycle including an active period and an inactive period. The DRX cycle is repeated periodically, resulting in Figure 2 There are several on-durations marked A1, A2 and A3 separated by inactive periods.

[0067] DRX is configured by the base station using RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, such as RRC Connection Reconfiguration or RRC Connection Setup. DRX parameters may include, among others:

[0068] drx-onDurationTimer (drx-onDurationTimer): The time the user equipment should remain active after it wakes up (in Figure 2 During this period, the user equipment should monitor the physical downlink channel (eg, PDCCH).

[0069] drx-inactivityTimer: This parameter corresponds to the delay that the user equipment should remain inactive after being scheduled.

[0070] drx-SlotOffset defines the start of the on ("ON") duration relative to the start of the subframe boundary.

[0071] Once configured by the network, the DRX cycle may be repeated until a new DRX configuration is received.Thus, the user equipment may wake up even if there is no data to receive.

[0072] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating main steps of a method for updating discontinuous reception configuration performed by a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0073] During a first step 300, user equipment 101 receives a message from base station 102 during an initially configured DRX active downlink monitoring period. The received message includes at least a time offset parameter. Based on the received time offset, user equipment 101 can determine a delay before entering an additional downlink monitoring period. According to an embodiment, the time offset value is configured by base station 102 such that the additional downlink monitoring period occurs during an inactive period immediately following the active monitoring period for which the offset parameter was received.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the received time offset parameter may be an index value representing a duration. In this case, the user equipment 101 may use a matching table to find the duration in milliseconds corresponding to the received offset value, the matching table including associations between offset parameter values ​​and corresponding durations.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the received time offset parameter may refer to an offset value given in the message in milliseconds.

[0076] In some embodiments, the received message may be carried via L1 / L2 signaling (ie, MAC CE and / or PDCCH).

[0077] The method further comprises step 301, wherein the user equipment 101 schedules an additional active downlink monitoring period based on the received time offset. The additional ON period is scheduled to start after expiration of a timer configured with a duration set according to the time offset received at step 300.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the user equipment 101 configures and starts a timer upon receiving the time offset parameter at step 300. When the time elapsed since receiving the time offset value is equal to the received time offset value, the additional activity duration thus starts.

[0079] In some embodiments, the user equipment 101 configures and starts a timer upon expiration of the active time period for which the time offset value is received.The offset value thus refers to the time delay between the end of the current monitoring period and the start of the additional monitoring period.

[0080] When the timer triggers, the user equipment 101 therefore enters an additional active state and starts monitoring the downlink data period in step 302. According to an embodiment, the user equipment 101 may start a second timer when entering the active state to control the duration of the active period, so that the additional monitoring period ends when the second timer expires.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the second timer may be configured with a duration corresponding to the duration of the most recent monitoring period.

[0082] According to some embodiments, the configuration message received at step 300 further includes a duration parameter for configuring the duration of the second active time period. Therefore, the second timer is configured according to the received duration parameter.

[0083] The method further comprises step 303 , in which the user equipment 101 receives downlink data during the additional downlink monitoring period started at step 301 .

[0084] In some embodiments, the second timer may be restarted upon receipt of the first downlink data byte. Thus, the additional downlink monitoring period is extended by a duration corresponding to the time elapsed between the start time of the additional activity time period and the time of receipt of the downlink data.

[0085] According to an embodiment, the method may include step 304, wherein the user equipment 101 receives a message from the base station 102 during the additional monitoring period, the message including a sleep command indicating that the base station 102 is no longer expected to transmit downlink data during the current additional activity period. In some embodiments, the sleep command is transmitted using L1 / L2 signaling (i.e., MAC CE and / or PDCCH).

[0086] The method further comprises step 305, wherein the additional monitoring period ends and the user equipment 101 returns to a dormant state until the next DRC cycle.

[0087] In some embodiments, step 305 is triggered by the expiration of a second timer.

[0088] According to an embodiment, step 305 is triggered by receiving a sleep command at step 304 .

[0089] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary DRX cycle configuration on a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0090] Figure 4 A first active time period 400 of a first DRX cycle n and a second active time period 401 of a next DRX cycle n+1 are shown in which the user equipment monitors the downlink channel. Figure 4 Also shown is a message 402 received by the user equipment during the active time period 400. The exemplary message 402, which may be transmitted by the base station on L1 / L2 signaling, includes a time offset parameter representing a value of X milliseconds. Based on the received offset value, the user equipment schedules timer T1 to expire X milliseconds after receiving message 402. Upon expiration of timer T1, the user equipment enters an additional active monitoring period 403 and schedules a second timer T2. The purpose of timer T2 is to control the duration of the additional active downlink monitoring period 403, i.e., upon expiration of timer T2, the user equipment switches back to an inactive state and stops monitoring the downlink channel. In some examples, the duration of timer T2 may be equal to the duration of the active time period 400 during which message 402 was received. In some embodiments, the duration of timer T1 may be configured based on the duration parameter included in message 402.

[0091] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary DRX cycle configuration on a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0092] Figure 5 A first active time period 500 of a first DRX cycle n and a second active time period 501 of a next DRX cycle n+1 are shown in which the user equipment monitors the downlink channel. Figure 5Also shown is a message 502 received by the user equipment during the active time period 500. The exemplary message 502, which may be transmitted by the base station via L1 / L2 signaling, includes a time offset parameter representing a value of X milliseconds. Based on the received offset value, the user equipment schedules timer T1 to expire X milliseconds after the end of the active time period 500 in which the message 502 is received. Upon expiration of timer T1, the user equipment enters an additional active monitoring period 503 and schedules a second timer T2. The purpose of timer T2 is to control the duration of the additional active downlink monitoring period 503, i.e., upon expiration of timer T2, the user equipment switches back to an inactive state and stops monitoring the downlink channel. In some examples, the duration of timer T2 may be equal to the duration of the active time period 500 in which the message 502 was received. In some embodiments, the duration of timer T1 may be configured based on the duration parameter included in the message 502.

[0093] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary DRX cycle configuration on a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0094] Figure 6 A first active time period 600 of a first DRX cycle n and a second active time period 601 of a next DRX cycle n+1 are shown in which the user equipment monitors the downlink channel.

[0095] Figure 6 Also shown is a message 602 received by the user equipment during the active time period 600. The exemplary message 602, which may be transmitted by the base station over L1 / L2 signaling, includes a time offset parameter representing a value of X milliseconds and a duration parameter of Y milliseconds. Based on the received offset value, the user equipment schedules timer T1 to expire X milliseconds after the end of the active time period 600 upon receipt of message 602. Upon expiration of timer T1, the user equipment enters an additional active downlink monitoring period 603 and schedules a second timer T2 using the duration provided in message 602. The purpose of timer T2 is to control the duration of the additional active downlink monitoring period 603, i.e., upon expiration of timer T2, the user equipment should switch back to an inactive state. The base station may fine-tune duration T2 based on the amount of data expected to be transmitted to the user equipment.

[0096] Figure 6 Further shown is downlink data 604 received during the additional activity monitoring time period 603. Upon receipt of said downlink data 604, timer T2 may be restarted such that the total duration of the additional activity period is extended.

[0097] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating main steps of a method performed by a network node for configuring discontinuous reception in a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0098] During a first step 700, Figure 1 The mentioned base station 102 may determine that downlink data is expected outside the active hours of the user equipment 101. This determination may be achieved by mapping the user equipment DRX configuration with traffic history, traffic volume and associated periodicity, traffic data burst rate analysis, and the like.

[0099] When user equipment 101 expects downlink data during its next inactive period, base station 102 may perform step 701, in which the base station determines the characteristics of an additional active period that will allow downlink data transmission within a short period of time. In particular, base station 102 may determine at least a time offset parameter for starting the additional active period within an inactive period following the current active period. The time offset parameter may refer to a delay before the expected data is ready for transmission to the user equipment, or a delay between the end of the current active period and the time when the expected data is available for transmission.

[0100] The base station 102 may then transmit the determined time offset to the user equipment 101 using L1 / L2 signaling (ie, MAC CE and / or PDCCH).

[0101] According to an embodiment, the base station 102 may further determine a duration parameter representing the time required to transmit the desired data. If such a duration is determined, the duration is included in the message transmitted to the user equipment 101 together with the time offset parameter.

[0102] The method further comprises step 702, wherein the base station 102 schedules an additional activity time period associated with the user equipment 101 based on the time offset determined at step 701. The additional activity time is scheduled to start after expiration of a timer configured with a duration set according to the time offset.

[0103] According to an embodiment, base station 102 configures and starts the timer when sending the time offset parameter in step 701. The additional active duration begins when the time elapsed since receiving the time offset value equals the received time offset value. In some embodiments, base station 102 configures and starts the timer when the current active period expires (i.e., after sending the time offset parameter to the user equipment). Thus, the offset value represents the time delay between the end of the current monitoring period and the start of the additional monitoring period.

[0104] When the timer triggers, the base station 102 thus knows that the user equipment 101 has entered the configured additional activity period. According to an embodiment, when determining that the user equipment 101 has entered the additional activity period, the base station 102 may start a second timer that allows monitoring the duration of the additional activity period: when the second timer expires, the base station 102 knows that the additional monitoring period configured in the user equipment 101 has ended.

[0105] If no duration parameter value is transmitted to the user equipment at step 701, the second timer may be configured with a duration corresponding to the duration of the most recent activity time period. Otherwise, the second timer may be configured with the determined duration parameter.

[0106] The method may further comprise the step 703 of transmitting downlink data to the user equipment 101 during the scheduled additional activity time period.

[0107] In some embodiments, a second timer for monitoring the duration of the additional activity may be restarted when the downlink data is sent. Thus, the additional activity period is extended by a duration corresponding to the time elapsed between the start time of the additional activity period and the reception time of the downlink data.

[0108] According to an embodiment, the method may include step 704, wherein the base station 102 detects that no downlink data is expected from the user equipment 101, and transmits a message to the user equipment 101, the message including a sleep command indicating that no downlink data is expected to be transmitted during the current additional activity period. In some embodiments, the message is transmitted using L1 / L2 signaling (i.e., MAC CE and / or PDCCH).

[0109] Figure 8 FIG8 shows a schematic architecture of an apparatus 800 suitable for implementing a wireless communication method for updating a discontinuous reception configuration performed by a user equipment device according to an embodiment.

[0110] The apparatus 800 includes a processor 801 and a memory 802, such as a random access memory (RAM). The processor 801 may be controlled by a computer program 803 stored in the memory 802, which includes instructions configured to implement a method for updating wireless communication of a discontinuous reception configuration according to an embodiment.

[0111] More specifically, the computer program 803 comprises instructions configured to implement the following steps: during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, receiving a configuration message from a network node, the message comprising at least a time offset parameter; scheduling a second active time period during a next inactive time period based on the received time offset; and receiving downlink data from the network node during the second active time period.

[0112] At initialization, the computer program instructions 803 may be loaded into the memory 802 before being executed by the processor 801. The processor 801 implements the steps of the method according to the instructions of the computer program 803.

[0113] The apparatus 800 includes a wireless communication unit 804 configured to exchange data using radio signals. The communication unit 804 may be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, or Wimax transceiver suitable for establishing a connection with one or more network nodes of a wireless network and exchanging data. The communication unit 804 may be configured to receive downlink data transmitted by a network node, in particular a configuration message from the network node, during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message including at least a time offset parameter.

[0114] The apparatus 800 further includes a DRX manager module 805 configured to apply at least one DRX configuration received from the base station via the communication unit 904. The DRX manager module may be implemented by computer program instructions configured to periodically activate and deactivate the receiver unit of the communication module 804 according to the DRX configuration parameters.

[0115] The apparatus 800 may further include a DRX configuration updater module 806 configured to update an active DRX configuration of the DRX manager 805. The DRX updater module may be implemented by computer program instructions configured to at least obtain a time offset received by the communication module 804 during a DRX active time period and schedule an additional active time period in the DRX manager module 805 based on the received time offset.

[0116] In some embodiments, the DRX configuration updater module 806 may be further configured by computer program instructions to obtain an activity duration received by the communication module 804 during the DRX active time period, and schedule an additional active time period in the DRX manager module 805 based on the obtained duration offset.

[0117] According to an embodiment, the apparatus 800 is comprised in a wireless device, for example a user equipment like a smartphone, a telecommunication unit of a vehicle, a computer, an IoT device, etc.

[0118] Figure 9 FIG2 shows a schematic architecture of an apparatus 900 suitable for implementing a wireless communication method for configuring discontinuous reception in a user equipment according to an embodiment.

[0119] The apparatus 900 includes a processor 901 and a memory 902, such as a random access memory (RAM). The processor 901 may be controlled by a computer program 903 stored in the memory 902, the computer program including instructions configured to implement a wireless communication method for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device according to an embodiment.

[0120] More specifically, the computer program 903 includes instructions configured to implement the following steps: determining that downlink data for the wireless device is expected during a next inactive time period configured in the wireless device; transmitting a configuration message to the wireless device during a current active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle configured in the wireless device, the message including at least a time offset parameter; and scheduling a second active time period for the wireless device during the next inactive time period based on the received time offset.

[0121] Apparatus 900 includes a downlink data prediction module 904 configured to determine that downlink data for a user equipment is expected during the next inactivity period configured in the user equipment. Module 904 may be implemented via computer program instructions configured to determine traffic characteristics (e.g., traffic periodicity, data burst rate, and duration), and to determine that downlink data for the user equipment is expected during the next DRX inactivity period configured in the user equipment. The downlink data prediction module may be further configured via computer program instructions to determine a time delay between the arrival of data and the duration of the expected data transmission.

[0122] Apparatus 900 includes a wireless communication unit 905 configured to exchange data using radio signals. Communication unit 905 may be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, or Wimax transceiver suitable for establishing a connection and exchanging data with one or more user equipment of a wireless network. Communication unit 905 may be configured to transmit a configuration message to the user equipment via L1 / L2 signaling during a first DRX active period of the user equipment, the configuration message including at least a time offset parameter determined by downlink data prediction module 904. According to an embodiment, communication unit 905 is further configured to transmit a configuration message including a transmission duration determined by prediction module 904.

[0123] The apparatus 900 further includes a DRX manager module 906 configured to monitor and configure the DRX state of the user equipment. The DRX manager module may be implemented via computer program instructions configured to manage a set of timers based on at least one active DRX configuration configured in the user equipment to determine the DRX state of the user equipment. The DRX manager module 906 may be further configured via computer program instructions to determine a start time and duration of an additional DRX active state corresponding to a DRX configuration update sent to the user equipment by the communication unit 905, and to notify the communication unit 905 when the user equipment enters the additional DRX active time, so that the communication module can transmit downlink data to the user equipment during the additional DRX active time.

[0124] According to an embodiment, the apparatus 900 is included in a wireless network node (eg, a base station, an eNodeB, a gNodeB, etc.).

[0125] The present disclosure also contemplates a wireless communication system for updating discontinuous reception, the system comprising a user equipment and a base station, the user equipment comprising the apparatus 800 and the base station comprising the apparatus 900 .

Claims

1. A wireless communication method, performed by a wireless device for updating a discontinuous reception configuration in the wireless device, the wireless device being connected to a wireless network node, the method comprising: receiving (300) a configuration message from the network node during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message comprising at least a time offset parameter, scheduling (301) a second activity time period during a next inactivity time period based on the received time offset, During the second activity time period, downlink data is received (302) from the network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The time offset parameter represents a delay between receipt of the parameter and the start of the second activity time period.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The time offset parameter represents a delay between the end of the first activity time period and the start of the second activity time period.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The second active time period is configured to have the same duration as the first active time period.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The received message further includes a duration parameter for configuring a duration of the second activity time period.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: Receiving the downlink data includes extending the second activity time period by a duration corresponding to the time elapsed between a start time of the second activity time period and a reception time of the downlink data.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The method further comprises the step of receiving a sleep command during the second activity time period when no more downlink data is expected from the network node.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The configuration message is carried through the MAC CE and / or the physical downlink control channel.

9. An apparatus for updating a discontinuous reception configuration in a wireless device connected to a wireless network node, the apparatus comprising a processor (801) coupled to a memory (802), the memory comprising computer program instructions (803) stored thereon, the processor (801) being configured by the instructions (803) to perform the following actions: receiving a configuration message from the network node during a first active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle, the message including at least a time offset parameter, scheduling a second activity time period during a next inactivity time period based on the received time offset, During the second activity time period, downlink data is received from the network node.

10. A user equipment device comprising the apparatus according to claim 9.

11. A wireless communication method, performed by a network node, for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device connected to the network node, the method comprising: determining (700) that downlink data for the wireless device is expected during a next inactivity time period configured in the wireless device, transmitting (701) a configuration message to the wireless device during a current active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle configured in the wireless device, the message comprising at least a time offset parameter, scheduling (702) a second activity time period for the wireless device during the next inactivity time period based on the received time offset, During the second activity time period, downlink data is transmitted (703) to the wireless device.

12. A radio network node for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device connected to the radio network node, the apparatus comprising a processor (901) coupled to a memory (902), the memory comprising computer program instructions (903) stored thereon, the processor (901) being configured by the instructions (903) to perform the following actions: determining that downlink data for the wireless device is expected during a next inactivity time period configured in the wireless device, transmitting a configuration message to the wireless device during a current active time period of a discontinuous reception cycle configured in the wireless device, the message including at least a time offset parameter, scheduling a second active time period for the wireless device during the next inactive time period based on the received time offset, During the second activity time period, downlink data is transmitted to the wireless device.

13. A wireless communication system comprising the radio network node according to claim 12, configured to configure user equipment according to claim 11.

14. A computer program product comprising instructions for implementing the method for updating discontinuous reception configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when the program is executed by a processor and / or for implementing the method for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device according to claim 10 when the program is executed by a processor.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions being configured to implement the method for updating discontinuous reception configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and / or the method for configuring discontinuous reception in a wireless device according to claim 10.

Images