Simultaneous optimization of network and device energy saving

Abstract

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to simultaneously optimizing network and device energy savings. An apparatus, such as a network equipment (NE), establishes energy saving priorities based on network energy savings and user equipment (UE) energy savings. The NE sends a network energy saving (NES) configuration mapped to an NES category to a UE, from which the UE establishes (re)selection priorities based at least in part on network energy savings and UE energy savings. The UE receives an indication of the NES configuration mapped to the NES category from the NE for a cell. The UE determines a remaining active time of the cell based on the NES configuration and evaluates one or more cell dormancy conditions based on a UE cell active threshold, a UE cell dormancy threshold, and a UE energy saving state supported by the cell.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 951,346, filed November 18, 2024, entitled "Jointly Optimize Network and Device Power Saving," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 951,346 also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 600,710, filed November 19, 2023, entitled "Jointly Optimize Network and Device Power Saving," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to network energy saving (NES) and device energy saving. Background Technology

[0003] A wireless communication system may include one or more network communication devices (such as base stations) that can support wireless communication for one or more user communication devices, which may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or other suitable terms. The wireless communication system can support wireless communication with one or more user communication devices by utilizing the resources of the wireless communication system (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, time slots, subframes, frames, etc.) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers, etc.)). Furthermore, the wireless communication system can support wireless communication across a variety of wireless access technologies, including third-generation (3G), fourth-generation (4G), fifth-generation (5G), and other suitable wireless access technologies beyond 5G (e.g., sixth-generation (6G)).

[0004] In wireless communication systems, emissions and energy consumption from various components have adverse effects on the climate, and the costs of operating telecommunications services are high. With the continued growth of mobile data services, coupled with rising spectrum costs, capital investments, and ongoing RAN maintenance and upgrades, energy-saving measures are needed in network operations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The article “a” preceding an element is not limited and should be understood to mean “at least one” or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” are interchangeable. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items beginning with phrases such as “at least one,” “one or more,” or “one or two”) indicates an inclusive list; for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Additionally, as used herein, the phrase “based on” should not be understood to refer to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step described as “based on condition A” could be based on both condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” should be constructed in the same manner as the phrase “at least partially based on.” Furthermore, as used herein, including in the claims, “set” can include one or more elements.

[0006] Some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein may further include a UE for wireless communication that receives an indication of one or more NES configurations or NES categories. The UE determines the remaining activity time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration. The UE evaluates one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0007] In some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein, the UE determines whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining active time of the cell is greater than the UE's cell activity threshold; and the cell's shutdown period is greater than the UE's cell sleep threshold. The cell's shutdown period is the cell's discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception (DTX / DRX) shutdown time. If one or more cell sleep conditions are met, the UE will prioritize (reselect) the cell; or if one or more cell sleep conditions are not met, the UE will lower (reselect) the cell's priority. The UE receives the DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determines the remaining active time of the cell based on the cell's on duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell's shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The UE performs cell (reselection) at least in part based on the NES configuration and the UE power-saving state. The UE prioritizes (reselects) cells first based on the UE power-saving state and then based on one or more cell sleep conditions. The UE first selects cells based on one or more cell dormancy conditions, and then prioritizes (re-selects) cells based on the UE's power-saving status.

[0008] Some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein may further include a processor for wireless communication that receives an indication of one or more NES configurations or NES categories. The processor determines the remaining activity time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration. The processor evaluates one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0009] In some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein, the processor determines whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold; and the cell shutdown period is greater than the UE cell sleep threshold. The cell shutdown period is the DTX / DRX shutdown time of the cell. If one or more cell sleep conditions are met, the processor prioritizes (re-selects) the cell. If one or more cell sleep conditions are not met, the processor lowers the priority of (re-selecting) the cell. The processor receives the DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determines the remaining activity time of the cell based on the cell's on-time duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on-time duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The processor performs cell (re-selection) at least in part based on the NES configuration and the UE power-saving state. The processor prioritizes (re-selects) the cell first based on the UE power-saving state and then based on one or more cell sleep conditions. The processor first prioritizes (re)selects cells based on one or more cell dormancy conditions, and then prioritizes (re)selects cells based on UE power-saving status.

[0010] Some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein may also include a method performed by a UE, comprising: receiving an indication of one or more of an NES configuration or NES categories; determining the remaining activity time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration; and evaluating one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0011] In some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein, the method further includes: determining whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold; and the cell shutdown period is greater than the UE cell sleep threshold. The cell shutdown period is the DTX / DRX shutdown time of the cell. The method further includes: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell if one or more cell sleep conditions are met. The method further includes: reducing the priority of (re-selecting) the cell if one or more cell sleep conditions are not met. The method further includes: receiving DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determining the remaining activity time of the cell based on the cell's on-time duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on-time duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The method further includes: performing cell (re-selection) at least in part based on NES configuration and UE power-saving state. The method further includes: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell first based on the UE power-saving state, and subsequently based on one or more cell sleep conditions. The method also includes: firstly, prioritizing (re-selecting) cells based on one or more cell dormancy conditions, and then based on the UE power-saving state.

[0012] Some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein may also include a NE for wireless communication that establishes power-saving priorities based at least in part on network power saving and user UE power saving. The NE sends an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to the UE, and the UE establishes (re)selects priorities based at least in part on the network power saving and the UE power saving according to the NES configuration.

[0013] In some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein, the NES configuration instruction prioritizes (re)selection based first on UE power saving and then on network power saving.

[0014] Some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein may also include a method performed by the NE, comprising: establishing an energy-saving priority based at least on network energy saving and UE energy saving; and sending an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to the UE, wherein the UE establishes (re)selection priority based at least in part on the network energy saving and the UE energy saving according to the NES configuration.

[0015] In some implementations of the methods and apparatus described herein, the NES configuration instruction prioritizes (re)selection based first on UE power saving and then on network power saving. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 Examples of wireless communication systems according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0017] Figure 2 An example procedure for prioritizing or deprioritizing a cell for a UE with RRC idle is shown according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 3 , Figure 4 Examples of cell dormancy conditions according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0019] Figure 5 Another example process for prioritizing or deprioritizing a cell for a UE with RRC idle is shown according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0020] Figure 6 , Figure 7 Examples of cell selection prioritization according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0021] Figure 8 Examples of UEs according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0022] Figure 9 Examples of processors according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0023] Figure 10 Examples of network devices (NEs) according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0024] Figure 11 A flowchart of a method performed by a UE according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0025] Figure 12 A flowchart of a method performed by an NE according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Wireless communication systems comprise a multitude of components, devices, services, and facilities, many of which contribute to escalating network costs and operating expenses. Furthermore, emissions and energy consumption from numerous different network components have adverse climate impacts. With the continued growth of mobile data services, coupled with rising spectrum costs, capital investments, and ongoing RAN maintenance and upgrades, energy-saving measures are needed in network operations. In particular, the adoption of new communication use cases and millimeter-wave technologies will require more base stations and antennas. While this promises more efficient networks, without proactive intervention, the result will be increased emissions. As 5G becomes more widespread across industries and regions, handling more advanced services and applications requires extremely high data rates, leading to denser networks using more antennas, greater bandwidth, and more frequency bands. Implementing NES (Network Element System) can help control the environmental impact of expanding 5G.

[0027] In wireless communication systems, most energy consumption comes from the radio access network, especially from active antenna units (AAUs), while data centers and fiber optic transmission account for a smaller proportion of energy consumption. The power consumption of radio access can be divided into two parts: a dynamic part, which consumes power only during data transmission and / or reception; and a static part, which continuously consumes power to maintain the necessary operation of the radio access equipment even when data transmission and / or reception are not in progress. Therefore, energy-saving technologies for NES are needed, particularly for base stations. This involves utilizing one or more network energy-saving technologies in the time, frequency, spatial, and power domains to achieve more granular adaptation to transmission and / or reception, as well as support and feedback from the UE, potential UE assistance information, and information exchange and coordination through the network interface, to achieve more efficient operation dynamically and / or semi-statically. Any potential network energy consumption gain also needs to be assessed by examining key performance indicators (KPIs) (such as spectral efficiency, capacity, user-aware throughput (UPT), latency, UE power consumption, complexity, handover performance, call drop rate, initial access performance, and service level agreement (SLA) guarantee-related KPIs) to consider their impact on network and UE performance.

[0028] Standardized NES capabilities not only improve energy efficiency but, more importantly, enable service to (multiple) UEs without compromising performance. Diverse use cases from various vertical industries result in different business models and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Maximizing network energy savings while meeting the stringent QoS requirements of these diverse service types can be critical. Furthermore, business models are expected to change with the type of use case and / or network scenario. Therefore, a trade-off is likely between energy saving and desired KPIs; for example, a cell employing maximum energy efficiency may not be able to meet the latency-critical service requirements of multiple UEs for sub-millisecond end-to-end latency. Such QoS degradation is unacceptable for use cases such as augmented reality and / or virtual reality (AR / VR), haptic feedback, autonomous vehicles, mission-critical communications, and mobile robots. Therefore, an adaptive and robust NES mechanism is implemented to achieve the optimal balance.

[0029] Traditionally, RRC idle and inactive UEs are unaware of network and device power-saving features supported by the network. Cell selection or reselection processes are performed regardless of the NES mode configured in the cell and the UE power-saving features supported in the cell. Idle UEs lack flexibility in pursuing cells that can ultimately extend their connection time within that cell and meet service requirements. This can lead to user performance degradation and service interruptions. While NES mode is limited to UEs with RRC connections, the impact of power saving on UEs in RRC idle mode must be considered. When in RRC idle mode, the UE performs cell selection or reselection without knowing the power-saving modes configured or activated in the corresponding candidate cells, and without considering UE capabilities. This can lead to the UE connecting to a cell configured with power-saving schemes and experiencing unacceptable performance degradation for strict service categories. Alternatively, the UE may connect to a cell that does not support device power-saving modes.

[0030] Several aspects of this disclosure aim to simultaneously optimize network and device power saving, thereby facilitating a trade-off between power saving and user performance. A cell selection or reselection method is proposed that assists RRC-idle UEs in classifying candidate cells based on the configured NES mode (e.g., DTX / DRX configuration) and UE power saving features supported by the cell. Furthermore, this addresses the problem of RRC-idle UEs performing non-optimal cell selection or reselection due to the NES mode configured in the cell. Moreover, aspects of this disclosure aim to ensure that user performance is maintained while achieving efficient network and UE power saving. Related techniques include enhancements to existing cell (re)selection mechanisms for UEs in RRC-idle mode, enabling the UE to consider both the power saving mode configured in the cell and the UE power saving features supported by the cell when performing cell (re)selection. This includes defining new UE thresholds for tolerable cell activity time and cell sleep time, and new cell (re)selection evaluation conditions based on the NES configuration in the cell and the supported UE power saving features. These cell access conditions enable NES-enabled UEs to prioritize or de-prioritize NES cells and allow for more granular restrictions on UE access to NES cells, thereby achieving a balance between energy saving and user performance.

[0031] In some aspects of this disclosure, new UE thresholds define tolerable cell activity and cell sleep times. Furthermore, auxiliary cell (re)selection evaluation criteria are introduced to assist UEs in idle mode. This cell (re)selection criterion can be applied to both network and device power saving simultaneously, or based on assigned priorities. Therefore, it provides the flexibility to handle both network and device power saving simultaneously. The solution extends power saving modes to RRC-idle UEs, which might otherwise connect to any NES cell without knowing their NES capabilities, leading to radio link failures or performance degradation. UEs may not consider any cell (re)selection evaluation criteria related to NES or device power saving, potentially resulting in UEs connecting to non-preferred cells, either with NES modes that do not meet their service requirements or cells that do not support UE power saving. The technology provides a mechanism to ensure user performance while achieving efficient network and UE power saving using ENS categories. Existing cell (re)selection can be enhanced to assist RRC-idle UEs in classifying candidate cells based on the configured NES mode (e.g., DTX / DRX configuration) and UE power-saving features supported by the cell. For different use cases, such as prioritizing UE power saving, prioritizing user performance from the NES, or both, the behavior of the UE in evaluating cell (re)selection in idle mode is defined. This method simultaneously optimizes network power saving and device power saving.

[0032] The various aspects of this disclosure are described in the context of wireless communication systems to simultaneously optimize network and device power efficiency.

[0033] Figure 1 Examples of a wireless communication system 100 according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more NEs 102, one or more UEs 104, and a core network (CN) 106. The wireless communication system 100 may support various wireless access technologies. In some implementations, the wireless communication system 100 may be a 4G network, such as an LTE network or an advanced LTE (LTE-A) network. In some other implementations, the wireless communication system 100 may be an NR network, such as a 5G network, an advanced 5G (5G-A) network, or a 5G ultra-wideband (5G-UWB) network. In other implementations, the wireless communication system 100 may be a combination of 4G and 5G networks, or other suitable wireless access technologies, including IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20. The wireless communication system 100 may support wireless access technologies beyond 5G, such as 6G. In addition, the wireless communication system 100 can support technologies such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

[0034] One or more NEs 102 may be distributed throughout a geographic area to form a wireless communication system 100. The one or more NEs 102 described herein may be, include, or may be referred to as network nodes, base stations, network elements, network functions, network entities, radio access networks (RANs), NodeBs, eNodeBs (eNBs), next-generation NodeBs (gNBs), or other suitable terms. NEs 102 and UEs 104 may communicate via a communication link, which may be a wireless or wired connection. For example, NEs 102 and UEs 104 may perform wireless communication (e.g., receiving signaling, sending signaling) via a Uu interface.

[0035] NE 102 can provide a geographic coverage area, and NE 102 can support services for one or more UE 104s within that geographic coverage area. For example, NE 102 and UE 104 can support wireless communication of signals associated with services (e.g., voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasting, etc.) based on one or more radio access technologies. In some implementations, NE 102 can be mobile, for example, a satellite associated with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some implementations, different geographic coverage areas associated with the same or different radio access technologies can overlap, but different geographic coverage areas can be associated with different NE 102s.

[0036] One or more UEs 104 may be distributed throughout the geographic area of ​​the wireless communication system 100. UE 104 may include or be referred to as a remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, remote device, subscriber device, transmitter device, receiver device, or some other suitable term. In some implementations, UE 104 may be referred to as a unit, station, terminal, or client, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, UE 104 may be referred to as an Internet of Things (IoT) device, Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, etc.

[0037] UE 104 can support direct wireless communication with other UE 104 via a communication link. For example, UE 104 can support direct wireless communication with another UE 104 via a device-to-device (D2D) communication link. In some implementations, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) deployments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) deployments, or cellular V2X deployments, the communication link 114 may be referred to as a side link. For example, UE 104 can support direct wireless communication with another UE 104 via a PC5 interface.

[0038] NE 102 may support communication with CN 106 or another NE 102, or both. For example, NE 102 may interface with other NE 102 or CN 106 via one or more backhaul links (e.g., S1, N2, N2, or other network interfaces). In some implementations, NE 102 may communicate directly with each other. In some other implementations, NE 102 may communicate indirectly with each other (e.g., via CN 106). In some implementations, one or more NE 102 may include sub-components, such as access network entities, which may be examples of access node controllers (ANCs). The ANC may communicate with one or more UE 104s via one or more other access network transport entities, which may be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmit-receive points (TRPs).

[0039] CN 106 can support user authentication, access authorization, tracking, connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. CN 106 can be an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G core (5GC), which may include control plane entities that manage access and mobility (e.g., Mobility Management Entity (MME), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)) and user plane entities that route or interconnect packets to external networks (e.g., Serving Gateway (S-GW), Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW), or User Plane Function (UPF)). In some implementations, the control plane entities may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management (e.g., data bearers, signaling bearers, etc.) for one or more UEs 104 served by one or more NEs 102 associated with CN 106.

[0040] CN 106 can communicate with the packet data network via one or more backhaul links (e.g., via S1, N2, N6, or another network interface). The packet data network may include an application server. In some implementations, one or more UEs 104 can communicate with the application server. UE 104 can establish a session with CN 106 via NE 102 (e.g., a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, etc.). CN 106 can use the established session (e.g., an established PDU session) to route traffic (e.g., control information, data, etc.) between UE 104 and the application server. A PDU session can be an example of a logical connection between UE 104 and CN 106 (e.g., one or more network functions of CN 106).

[0041] In the wireless communication system 100, NE 102 and UE 104 can use the resources of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, time slots, subframes, frames, etc.) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers)) to perform various operations (e.g., wireless communication). In some implementations, NE 102 and UE 104 can support different resource structures. For example, NE 102 and UE 104 can support different frame structures. In some implementations, such as in 4G, NE 102 and UE 104 can support a single frame structure. In some other implementations, such as in 5G and other suitable radio access technologies, NE 102 and UE 104 can support various frame structures (i.e., multiple frame structures). NE 102 and UE 104 can support various frame structures based on one or more sets of parameters.

[0042] One or more parameter sets may be supported in the wireless communication system 100, and the parameter sets may include subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix. The first parameter set (e.g., =0) can be associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) and the regular cyclic prefix. In some implementations, the first parameter set associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) is... =0) allows one time slot to be used per subframe. The second parameter set (e.g., =1) can be associated with the second subcarrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz) and the regular cyclic prefix. The third parameter set (e.g., =2) can be associated with the third subcarrier spacing (e.g., 60 kHz) and the regular cyclic prefix or extended cyclic prefix. The fourth parameter set (e.g., =3) can be associated with the fourth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 120 kHz) and the regular cyclic prefix. The fifth parameter set (e.g.) =4) can be associated with the fifth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 240 kHz) and the regular cyclic prefix.

[0043] Time intervals for resources (e.g., communication resources) can be organized according to frames (also known as radio frames). Each frame can have a duration, for example, 10 milliseconds (ms). In some implementations, each frame can include multiple subframes. For example, each frame can include 10 subframes, and each subframe can have a duration, for example, 1 ms. In some implementations, each frame can have the same duration. In some implementations, each subframe of a frame can have the same duration.

[0044] Alternatively or concurrently, the time intervals of resources (e.g., communication resources) can be organized according to time slots. For example, a subframe may include a certain number (e.g., quantity) of time slots. The number of time slots in each subframe may also depend on one or more parameter sets supported in the wireless communication system 100. For example, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth parameter sets (i.e., ...) associated with corresponding subcarrier intervals of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz. =0、 =1、 =2、 =3、 =4) One time slot per subframe, two time slots per subframe, four time slots per subframe, eight time slots per subframe, and sixteen time slots per subframe can be used accordingly. Each time slot can include a certain number (e.g., quantity) of symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols). In some implementations, the number (e.g., quantity) of time slots per subframe may depend on the parameter set. For a regular cyclic prefix, one time slot may include 14 symbols. For an extended cyclic prefix (e.g., for a 60 kHz subcarrier spacing), one time slot may include 12 symbols. The relationship between the number of symbols per time slot, the number of time slots per subframe, and the number of time slots per frame for both regular and extended cyclic prefixes may depend on the parameter set. It should be understood that for the first parameter set (e.g., ...) associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz)... The reference of (=0) can be used interchangeably between subframes and time slots.

[0045] In the wireless communication system 100, the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum can be divided into various categories, frequency bands, channels, etc., based on frequency or wavelength. For example, the wireless communication system 100 can support one or more operating frequency bands, such as frequency ranges specified as FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz – 71 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz – 300 GHz). In some implementations, NE 102 and UE 104 can perform wireless communication through one or more of the operating frequency bands. In some implementations, FR1 can be used by NE 102 and UE 104, along with other devices or apparatuses, for cellular communication services (e.g., control information, data). In some implementations, FR2 can be used by NE 102 and UE 104, as well as other devices or apparatuses, for short-range, high-data-rate capabilities.

[0046] FR1 can be associated with one or more parameter sets (e.g., at least three parameter sets). For example, FR1 can be associated with the first parameter set (e.g., =0) is associated with which includes a 15 kHz subcarrier spacing; FR1 can be associated with a second set of parameters (e.g., =1) is associated with which includes a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing; and FR1 can be associated with a third parameter set (e.g., =2) is associated with a 60 kHz subcarrier spacing. FR2 can be associated with one or more parameter sets (e.g., at least two parameter sets). For example, FR2 can be associated with a third parameter set (e.g., =2) is associated with, which includes a 60 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a fourth parameter set (e.g., =4), which includes a 120 kHz subcarrier spacing.

[0047] Depending on the implementation, one or more of NE 102 and UE 104 are operable to implement various aspects of the technology described with reference to this disclosure. For example, NE 102 (e.g., a base station, gNB) establishes power-saving priorities based on network power saving and UE power saving. NE 102 sends an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to UE 104, and UE 104 establishes (re)selection priorities based on network power saving and UE power saving according to the NES configuration. UE 104 receives an indication of one or more NES configurations or NES categories from the NE, which is the cell. UE 104 determines the remaining activity time of the cell based on the NES configuration and evaluates one or more cell sleep conditions based on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and the UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0048] One technique for improving network energy efficiency in the time domain is cell DTX / DRX, which is applicable to UEs in RRC-connected states. Periodic cell DTX / DRX (i.e., active and inactive cycles) can be configured by the gNB via UE-specific RRC signaling for each serving cell, and cell DTX / DRX can also be configured and operated collectively. At least the following parameters can be configured per cell DTX / DRX configuration: periodicity, start timeslot / offset, and duration of activation. UE behavior is a key concern when a cell activates a single DTX / DRX configuration at any given time. Whether a legacy UE in idle mode can access a cell with cell DTX / DRX is determined by the network, and the network should allow NES-enabled UEs to camp on NES cells. Cell DTX / DRX modes can be activated or deactivated via dynamic L1 / L2 signaling and UE-specific RRC signaling. UE-specific signaling and common L1 / L2 signaling can be considered for activating and deactivating cell DTX / DRX modes. As described above, the network can utilize mechanisms such as those that can be considered for both frequency and cell-level cell selection or reselection (de)prioritization to configure NES-enabled UEs to (de)prioritize NES cells, and can also define separate camping restrictions for NES-enabled and NES-unsupported UEs.

[0049] The primary motivation behind standardizing NES functionality is to improve energy efficiency while serving users without sacrificing performance. Diverse use cases from various vertical industries result in different business models and service QoS. Maximizing network energy savings while meeting the stringent QoS requirements of these different service categories can be crucial. Furthermore, business models are expected to change with the type of use case and / or network scenario. Therefore, there is likely to be a trade-off between energy efficiency and required KPIs (e.g., a cell achieving maximum energy efficiency may not be able to meet the latency-critical service requirements of multiple user devices for sub-millisecond end-to-end latency). Such QoS degradation is unacceptable for use cases such as AR / VR, haptic feedback, autonomous vehicles, mission-critical communications, and mobile robotics. Therefore, an adaptive and robust NES mechanism is essential to achieving the optimal balance.

[0050] Referring to the simultaneous optimization of network and device power saving, as described in this article, NES mode is limited to UEs connected via RRC. However, the impact of power saving on UEs in RRC idle mode must be considered. When in RRC idle mode, the UE performs cell selection or reselection without knowing the power saving modes configured or activated in the corresponding candidate cells, and the power saving capabilities of the UE in idle mode are not considered. This may cause the UE to connect to a cell configured with power saving schemes and experience unacceptable performance degradation for strict service classes. Otherwise, the UE may connect to a cell that does not support device power saving modes.

[0051] To avoid unnecessary radio link failures and simplify cell selection or reselection processes, the network broadcasts the NES category indication via signaling in the system information (SIB4 / SIB5). Upon receiving the SIB1 indication for cell-specific SIB4 / SIB5, the UE can decode the NES category indication, and the available QoS class identifier (QCI) associated with the corresponding NES category is configured and activated in that cell. Therefore, as referenced... Figure 2 As shown and described, for cell selection or reselection, the cell is prioritized or de-prioritized. If power-saving mode is not enabled, conventional (re)selection can be used as a baseline solution. If the proposed QoS-aware scheme is configured and enabled, the UE will use the QoS-aware scheme to perform the cell (re)selection in NES mode. When a cell is in NES mode, non-NES UEs can only access the cell if the NES scheme is backward compatible. The NES cell can be configured to prohibit non-NES UEs in RRC idle mode. Although the network allows NES-enabled UEs to camp on NES cells, these UEs can be configured to prioritize or de-prioritize NES cells.

[0052] In the first implementation, dwell restrictions for both non-NES and NES-enabled UEs are described. The NES category indicator addresses the issue of prohibiting UEs from accessing NES cells, specifically prohibiting NES-enabled UEs from accessing NES cells. If the NES category is set to zero, it indicates that no NES features are enabled in the cell, and UEs of any category can access the cell. If the NES category > 0, non-NES UEs are prohibited from accessing the cell, and the specific NES category indicator informs the UE of the enabled NES features and their corresponding supported QoS.

[0053] Various aspects of this disclosure are described as enhancements to cell (re)selection, enabling the UE to consider power-saving modes configured in the cell, NES configurations supported in the cell, and UE power-saving features supported by the cell when performing cell (re)selection. This document includes and describes several parameters, including the remaining cell activity time (also referred to as the remaining activity time of the serving cell), i.e., the remaining time the cell will be active (determined by the UE). The DTX / DRX shutdown duration refers to the period during which the cell will be inactive (sleep). The UE cell activity threshold is a predefined threshold from the UE's perspective for the cell's activity duration, used to assess whether the remaining cell activity time is sufficient for the UE to avoid radio link failure. The UE cell sleep threshold is a predefined threshold from the UE's perspective for the cell's inactivity duration, compared to the configured cell inactivity (sleep) time.

[0054] In implementation, one or more thresholds can be configured within a cell, and these thresholds can be associated with one or more NES categories. The UE can select (multiple) thresholds from system information blocks based on its device DTX / DRX periodic configuration. By using the NES category mechanism, which provides a mapping between NES categories and radio resource (NES) configurations, the cell (re)selection process is enhanced. Several possible schemes exist to prioritize or de-prioritize cell (re)selection.

[0055] Figure 2Example procedure 200 for prioritizing or de-prioritizing a UE for RRC idle is shown according to various aspects of this disclosure. At procedure 202, it is determined whether the legacy cell NES category is greater than zero. If the NES category is set to zero, it indicates that no NES features are enabled in the cell, and UEs of any category can access the cell. If the NES category = 0, no NES solution is applied, and therefore a selection or reselection of the legacy or existing cell is performed at 204. If the NES category is greater than zero, at 206, the legacy UE is prohibited from accessing the cell, and a specific NES category indication informs the UE of the enabled NES features and the corresponding supported QoS. If the NES category > 0, it indicates that an NES solution is applied, in which case there are two possibilities: including (A), the UE is a legacy UE or a UE that does not support NES (non-NES UE), in which case the UE will be prohibited, i.e., not allowed to connect to the cell; or (B), for all other UEs(s), this indicates that the UE is neither a legacy UE nor a non-NES UE, but a UE that supports NES.

[0056] For NES-enabled UE 208, at 210, it is determined whether the UE supports NES technology. If "No", non-NES UEs are prohibited from accessing the cell. If "Yes", at 212, it is determined whether the cell dormancy condition is met. For NES-enabled UEs, if the cell dormancy condition is met, the cell is prioritized (reselected) at 214. Otherwise, at 216, the priority of the cell is reduced (reselected).

[0057] Figure 3 Example 300 of cell dormancy conditions according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. In a second implementation, such as Figure 2As shown, a UE supporting NES can perform cell (re)selection evaluation based on the configured DTX / DRX sleep duration and on duration. For an NES-supporting UE, if the configured NES technology is supported by the UE, the UE prioritizes the cell if cell sleep condition 302 (or one or more cell sleep conditions) is met. In this example, the cell sleep condition is: the remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE's cell activity threshold (at 304), and the DTX / DRX off duration is greater than the UE's cell sleep threshold (at 306). In one implementation, the UE can be notified of the DTX / DRX configuration using the NES category. Alternatively, in another implementation, the UE can receive a DTX / DRX acknowledgment with network capability information. The UE can use the DTX / DRX on duration and start offset to determine the remaining activity time of the cell. Based on the list of candidate cells, the UE filters for cells that meet the above conditions of cell activity duration and cell off duration exceeding the threshold. If more than one cell is found, the UE can select the cell with the strongest radio conditions for camping.

[0058] Figure 4 Example 400 of cell dormancy conditions according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. In this example third embodiment, a NES-enabled UE can perform cell (re)selection evaluation based on the configured DTX / DRX dormancy duration and on duration, and the supported UE power-saving features. For an NES-enabled UE, if the configured NES technology is supported by the UE and the UE power-saving features are supported by the cell, the UE can prioritize camping on that cell. In this example, cell dormancy condition 402 is: the remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold (at 404), the DTX / DRX off duration is greater than the UE cell dormancy threshold (at 406), and the UE idle power-saving features are supported by the cell (at 408). In one implementation, the UE can be notified of DTX / DRX configuration using the NES category. Alternatively, in another implementation, the UE can receive DTX / DRX configuration with network capability information, which is transmitted using SIB signaling. The UE can use the DTX / DRX on duration and start offset to determine the remaining activity time of the cell. The UE can receive information about the supported UE power-saving features as part of the network capability information.

[0059] Figure 5An example procedure 500 for prioritizing or de-prioritizing a UE with RRC idle time is shown according to various aspects of this disclosure. In this example, for a NES-enabled UE 502, it is determined at 504 whether the UE supports NES technology. If "No", access to the cell for non-NES UEs is blocked. If "Yes", it is determined at 506 whether the cell dormancy condition is met. If "No", the priority of the cell is de-prioritized (re-selected) at 508. If "Yes", it is determined at 501 whether the UE power-saving condition is met. For an NES-enabled UE, if the cell dormancy condition is met (at 506) and if the UE power-saving condition is met (at 510), the UE prioritizes (re-selects) the cell at 512. Otherwise, at 508, the priority of the cell is de-prioritized (re-selected).

[0060] Based on the list of candidate cells, the UE filters cells that meet the aforementioned cell sleep conditions. The UE can then connect to a cell that supports UE power-saving features (such as Low Power Wake-up Radio (LP-WUR) and Early Paging Indication), in which case the UE can achieve maximum power saving and meet the UE power-saving conditions. If more than one cell is available, the UE can connect to the cell with the strongest radio conditions. In one implementation, if the UE supports idle mode power-saving features (such as LP-WUR), the cell (re)selection process may restrict the UE to camp on cells that support its power-saving features (if available). In another implementation, when UE power saving is not a priority, only cell power-saving schemes and corresponding conditions can be considered for cell (re)selection.

[0061] Figure 6 Example 600 for cell selection prioritization according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. In this example, if the priority of UE power saving is set higher than cell dormancy conditions, the UE filters all cells that support the UE idle power saving feature and camps on the cell with the strongest radio conditions. If no cell is found in the UE power saving condition evaluation, the UE evaluates the list of candidate cells for cell dormancy conditions (as described above) and camps on the cell with the best radio conditions. Otherwise, the UE selects the cell with the strongest radio conditions. For example, at 602, it is determined whether the UE power saving condition is met. If "yes", then at 604, the UE can prioritize cell (re)selection based on radio conditions. If "no", then at 606, it is determined whether the cell dormancy condition is met. If "yes", then again at 604, the UE can prioritize cell (re)selection based on radio conditions. If "no", then at 608, the UE can select the cell with the strongest radio conditions.

[0062] Figure 7Another example 700 for cell selection prioritization according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. In this example, if the priority of network power saving criteria for user performance is set higher than UE power saving, the UE filters all cells that meet the cell dormancy conditions and camps on the cell with the strongest radio conditions. If no cell is found in the cell dormancy condition evaluation, if the UE power saving characteristics are supported by that cell, the UE evaluates the list of candidate cells and camps on the cell with the strongest radio conditions. Otherwise, the UE selects the cell with the strongest radio conditions. For example, at 702, it is determined whether the cell dormancy conditions are met. If "yes", then at 704, the UE can prioritize cell (re)selection based on radio conditions. If "no", then at 706, it is determined whether the UE power saving conditions are met. If "yes", then again at 704, the UE can prioritize cell (re)selection based on radio conditions. If "no", then at 708, the UE can select the cell with the strongest radio conditions.

[0063] Figure 8 An example of a UE 800 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The UE 800 may include a processor 802, a memory 804, a controller 806, and a transceiver 808. The processor 802, memory 804, controller 806, or transceiver 808, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof, may be examples of parts for performing various aspects of this disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled via one or more interfaces (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically).

[0064] Processor 802, memory 804, controller 806 or transceiver 808, or various combinations or components thereof, may be implemented in hardware (e.g., a circuit system). The hardware may include a processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof, configured to or otherwise support components for performing the functions described in this disclosure.

[0065] Processor 802 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., a general-purpose processor, DSP, CPU, ASIC, FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, processor 802 may be configured to operate memory 804. In other implementations, memory 804 may be integrated into processor 802. Processor 802 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory 804 to cause UE 800 to perform various functions of this disclosure.

[0066] Memory 804 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. Memory 804 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code, including instructions that, when executed by processor 802, cause UE 800 to perform the various functions described herein. This code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as memory 804 or other types of memory. Computer-readable media include both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0067] In some implementations, processor 802 and memory 804 coupled to processor 802 may be configured to cause UE 800 to perform one or more functions described herein (e.g., instructions stored in memory 804 are executed by processor 802). For example, processor 802 may support wireless communication at UE 800 according to examples disclosed herein. UE 800 may be configured or operable to support components for: receiving indications regarding one or more of NES configurations or NES categories; determining the remaining activity time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration; and evaluating one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0068] Furthermore, UE 800 can be configured to support any one or a combination of the following methods, the method further comprising: determining whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining active time of the cell being greater than a UE cell activity threshold; and the cell's shutdown period being greater than a UE cell sleep threshold. The cell's shutdown period is the cell's DTX / DRX shutdown time. The method further comprises: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell if one or more cell sleep conditions are met; and reducing (re-selecting) the priority of the cell if one or more cell sleep conditions are not met. The method further comprises: receiving DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determining the remaining active time of the cell based on the cell's on-time duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell's shutdown period is derived from the cell's on-time duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The method further comprises: performing cell (re-selection) at least in part based on NES configuration and UE power-saving state. The method further comprises: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell first based on UE power-saving state, and subsequently based on one or more cell sleep conditions. The method also includes: firstly, prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell based on one or more cell dormancy conditions, and then based on the UE power-saving state.

[0069] Alternatively or concurrently, UE 800 may support at least one memory and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and configured to enable UE to: receive an indication of one or more of the NES configuration or NES categories; determine the remaining active time of the cell based at least in part on the NES configuration; and evaluate one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on the UE cell activity threshold, the UE cell sleep threshold, and the UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0070] Furthermore, UE 800 can be configured to support any of the following methods or combinations thereof: at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to determine whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining active time of the cell is greater than the UE's cell activity threshold; and the cell's shutdown period is greater than the UE's cell sleep threshold. The cell's shutdown period is the cell's DTX / DRX shutdown time. If one or more cell sleep conditions are met, at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to prioritize (reselect) the cell; if one or more cell sleep conditions are not met, at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to reduce (reselect) the cell's priority. At least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: receive DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determine the remaining active time of the cell based on the cell's on duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell's shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: perform cell (reselection) at least in part based on the NES configuration and the UE's power-saving state. The at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: firstly, based on the UE's power-saving state, and subsequently, based on one or more cell sleep conditions, prioritize (reselect) the cell.

[0071] Controller 806 can manage input and output signals for UE 800. Controller 806 can also manage peripheral devices not integrated into UE 800. In some implementations, controller 806 can utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, controller 806 can be implemented as part of processor 802.

[0072] In some implementations, UE 800 may include at least one transceiver 808. In other implementations, UE 800 may have more than one transceiver 808. Transceiver 808 may represent a wireless transceiver. Transceiver 808 may include one or more receiver chains 810, one or more transmitter chains 812, or a combination thereof.

[0073] Receiver chain 810 can be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) via a wireless medium. For example, receiver chain 810 may include one or more antennas for receiving signals over the air or via a wireless medium. Receiver chain 810 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. Receiver chain 810 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during signal transmission. Receiver chain 810 may include at least one decoder for decoding and processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0074] Transmitter chain 812 can be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). Transmitter chain 812 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal in preparation for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques, such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes (e.g., phase shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)). Transmitter chain 812 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over a wireless medium. Transmitter chain 812 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal over the air or within a wireless medium.

[0075] Figure 9 An example of a processor 900 according to aspects of this disclosure is shown. Processor 900 may be an example of a processor configured to perform various operations according to the examples described herein. Processor 900 may include a controller 902 configured to perform various operations according to the examples described herein. Processor 900 may optionally include at least one memory 904, which may be, for example, an L1 / L2 / L3 cache. Additionally or alternatively, processor 900 may optionally include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs) 906. One or more of these components may be electronically communicated or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces (e.g., buses).

[0076] Processor 900 may be a processor chipset and includes a protocol stack (e.g., a software stack) executed by the processor chipset to perform various operations (e.g., receive, acquire, send, output, forward, store, determine, identify, access, write, read) according to examples as described herein. The processor chipset may include one or more cores, one or more caches (e.g., memory located locally in the processor chipset (e.g., processor 900) or included in the processor chipset, or other memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase-change memory (PCM), etc.).

[0077] Controller 902 can be configured to manage and coordinate various operations of processor 900 (e.g., sending, receiving, acquiring, obtaining, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, and reading) to enable processor 900 to support various operations according to examples described herein. For example, controller 902 can operate as a control unit of processor 900, generating control signals that manage the operation of various components of processor 900. These control signals include enabling or disabling functional units, selecting data paths, initiating memory access, and coordinating the timing of operations.

[0078] Controller 902 may be configured to fetch (e.g., obtain, acquire, receive) instructions from memory 904 and determine subsequent instructions(s) to be executed to enable processor 900 to support various operations according to the examples described herein. Controller 902 may be configured to track the memory addresses of instructions associated with memory 904. Controller 902 may be configured to decode instructions to determine the operations to be performed and their operands. For example, controller 902 may be configured to interpret instructions and determine control signals to be output to other components of processor 900 to enable processor 900 to support various operations according to the examples described herein. Additionally or alternatively, controller 902 may be configured to manage data flow within processor 900. Controller 902 may be configured to control data transfers between registers, ALU 960, and other functional units of processor 900.

[0079] Memory 904 may include one or more caches, such as memory located locally in or included in processor 900, or other memory such as RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, MRAM, flash memory, etc. In some implementations, memory 904 may reside within or on the processor chipset (e.g., locally in processor 900). In some other implementations, memory 904 may reside outside the processor chipset (e.g., remotely from processor 900).

[0080] Memory 904 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code, including instructions that, when executed by processor 900, cause processor 900 to perform the various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as system memory or other types of memory. Controller 902 and / or processor 900 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory 904 to cause processor 900 to perform various functions. For example, processor 900 and / or controller 902 may be coupled to or coupled to memory 904, and processor 900, controller 902, and memory 904 may be configured to perform the various functions described herein. In some examples, processor 900 may include multiple processors, and memory 904 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled to one or more of the multiple memories, which may be configured individually or collectively to perform the various functions described herein.

[0081] One or more ALU 906s can be configured to support various operations according to the examples described herein. In some implementations, one or more ALU 906s may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., processor 900). In some other implementations, one or more ALU 906s may reside outside the processor chipset (e.g., processor 900). One or more ALU 906s can perform one or more computations on data, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example, one or more ALU 906s can receive input operands and an opcode that determines the operation to be performed. One or more ALU 906s can be configured with various logic and arithmetic circuitry, including adders, subtractors, shifters, and logic gates, to process and manipulate data according to the operations. Alternatively, one or more ALU 906s may support logical operations such as AND, OR, XOR, NOR, and NAND, enabling one or more ALU 906s to handle conditional operations, comparisons, and bitwise operations.

[0082] Processor 900 may support wireless communication according to examples disclosed herein. Processor 900 may be configured or operable to support at least one controller coupled to at least one memory and configured to cause the processor to: receive an indication of one or more of an NES configuration or NES category; determine the remaining active time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration; determine the remaining active time of a cell based at least in part on the NES configuration; and evaluate one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell.

[0083] Furthermore, the processor 900 may be configured or operable to support any one or a combination of the following: at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to determine whether one or more cell sleep conditions include: the remaining active time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold; and the cell shutdown period is greater than the UE cell sleep threshold. The cell shutdown period is the DTX / DRX shutdown time of the cell. If one or more cell sleep conditions are met, the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to prioritize (re)select the cell, or if one or more cell sleep conditions are not met, the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to reduce (re)select the cell priority. The at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to: receive DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and determine the remaining active time of the cell based on the cell's on duration, the start time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration. The cell shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration. The at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to: perform cell (re)selection based at least in part on the NES configuration and the UE power-saving state. The at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to prioritize (reselect) the cell first based on the UE power-saving state, and subsequently based on one or more cell sleep conditions.

[0084] Figure 10An example of an NE 1000 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The NE 1000 may include a processor 1002, a memory 1004, a controller 1006, and a transceiver 1008. The processor 1002, memory 1004, controller 1006, or transceiver 1008, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof, may be examples of parts for performing various aspects of this disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled via one or more interfaces (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, or electrically).

[0085] Therefore, the processor 1002, memory 1004, controller 1006, or transceiver 1008, or various combinations or components thereof, may be implemented by hardware (e.g., a circuit system). The hardware may include a processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof, configured or otherwise supporting components for performing the functions described in this disclosure.

[0086] Processor 1002 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., a general-purpose processor, DSP, CPU, ASIC, FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, processor 1002 may be configured to operate memory 1004. In some other implementations, memory 1004 may be integrated into processor 1002. Processor 1002 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory 1004 to cause NE 1000 to perform various functions of this disclosure.

[0087] Memory 1004 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. Memory 1004 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code, including instructions that, when executed by processor 1002, cause NE 1000 to perform the various functions described herein. This code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as memory 1004 or other types of memory. Computer-readable media include both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0088] In some implementations, processor 1002 and memory 1004 coupled to processor 1002 may be configured to cause NE 1000 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., processor 1002 executing instructions stored in memory 1004). For example, processor 1002 may support wireless communication at NE 1000 according to examples as described herein. NE 1000 may be configured or operable to support components for: establishing power-saving priorities based at least on network power saving and UE power saving; and sending an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to the UE, which the UE uses to establish (re)select priorities based at least in part on the network power saving and UE power saving.

[0089] In addition, the NE 1000 can be configured or operated to support any one or a combination of the following: NES configuration indices prioritize (re)selection based first on UE power saving and then on network power saving.

[0090] Alternatively or concurrently, the NE 1000 may support at least one memory and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and configured to enable the NE to: establish (re)select priority based at least on network power saving and UE power saving; and send an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to the UE, the UE establishing (re)select priority based at least in part on the network power saving and the UE power saving according to the NES configuration.

[0091] In addition, the NE 1000 can be configured to support any one or a combination of the following: NES configuration indication first based on UE power saving and then on network power saving (re)selection priority.

[0092] Controller 1006 can manage input and output signals for NE 1000. Controller 1006 can also manage peripherals not integrated into NE 1000. In some implementations, controller 1006 can utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, controller 1006 can be implemented as part of processor 1002.

[0093] In some implementations, the NE 1000 may include at least one transceiver 1008. In other implementations, the NE 1000 may have multiple transceivers 1008. A transceiver 1008 may represent a wireless transceiver. A transceiver 1008 may include one or more receiver chains 1010, one or more transmitter chains 1012, or a combination thereof.

[0094] Receiver chain 1010 can be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) via a wireless medium. For example, receiver chain 1010 may include one or more antennas for receiving signals over the air or via a wireless medium. Receiver chain 1010 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. Receiver chain 1010 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during signal transmission. Receiver chain 1010 may include at least one decoder for decoding and processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0095] Transmitter chain 1012 can be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). Transmitter chain 1012 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal in preparation for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques, such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes (e.g., phase shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)). Transmitter chain 1012 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over a wireless medium. Transmitter chain 1012 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal over the air or within a wireless medium.

[0096] Figure 11 A flowchart of method 1100 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The operation of this method can be implemented by a UE as described herein. In some embodiments, the UE can execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the function. It should be noted that the method described herein is one possible embodiment, and its operation and steps can be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other embodiments may also exist.

[0097] At 1102, the method may include receiving an indication of one or more of the NES configuration or NES categories. The operation of 1102 may be performed as described in the examples herein. In some implementations, some aspects of the operation of 1102 may be performed by the UE, as referred to... Figure 8 As stated above.

[0098] At 1104, the method may include: determining the remaining activity time of the cell, at least in part based on the NES configuration. The operation at 1104 may be performed as described in the examples herein. In some implementations, some aspects of the operation at 1104 may be performed by the UE, as referenced... Figure 8 As stated above.

[0099] At 1106, the method may include: evaluating one or more cell sleep conditions based at least in part on a UE cell activity threshold, a UE cell sleep threshold, and a UE power-saving state supported by the cell. The operation of 1106 may be performed as described in the examples herein. In some implementations, some aspects of the operation of 1106 may be performed by the UE, as referred to... Figure 8 As stated above.

[0100] Figure 12 A flowchart of a method 1200 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The operation of this method can be implemented by the NE described herein. In some embodiments, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the NE to perform the function. It should be noted that the method described herein is one possible embodiment, and its operation and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other embodiments may also exist.

[0101] At point 1202, the method may include: establishing a power-saving priority based at least on network power saving and user UE power saving. The operation of point 1202 may be performed as described in the examples herein. In some implementations, some aspects of the operation of point 1202 may be performed by the NE, as referred to... Figure 10 As stated above.

[0102] At 1204, the method may include: sending an NES configuration mapped to an NES category to the UE, and the UE establishing (re)selection priorities based on the NES configuration, at least in part, network power saving and UE power saving. The operation at 1204 may be performed as described in the examples herein. In some implementations, some aspects of the operation at 1204 may be performed by the NE, as referred to... Figure 10 As stated above.

[0103] The description herein is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be given the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features described herein.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: At least one memory; as well as At least one processor, coupled to the at least one memory and configured to cause the UE to: Receive instructions for one or more of the following: Network Energy Saving NES configuration or NES category; The remaining activity time of the cell is determined, at least in part, based on the NES configuration; as well as One or more cell sleep conditions are evaluated based at least in part on UE cell activity thresholds, UE cell sleep thresholds, and UE power-saving states supported by the cells.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to determine whether the one or more cell sleep conditions include: The remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold; as well as The cell shutdown period is longer than the UE cell sleep threshold.

3. The UE according to claim 2, wherein the shutdown period of the cell is the discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception (DTX / DRX) shutdown time of the cell.

4. The UE of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to perform one of the following: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell if the one or more cell dormancy conditions are met, or reducing the priority of (re-selecting) the cell if the one or more cell dormancy conditions are not met.

5. The UE of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: Receive discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and The remaining activity time of the cell is determined based on the cell's activation duration, the starting time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration.

6. The UE according to claim 5, wherein the cell's shutdown period is derived based on the cell's open duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: perform cell (re)selection at least in part based on the NES configuration and the UE power-saving state.

8. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: firstly, based on the UE power-saving state, and subsequently, based on the one or more cell sleep conditions, prioritize (re)select the cell.

9. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: firstly, based on the one or more cell sleep conditions, and subsequently, based on the UE power-saving state, prioritize (re)select the cell.

10. A processor for wireless communication, comprising: At least one controller, coupled to at least one memory and configured to cause the processor to: Receive instructions for one or more of the following: Network Energy Saving NES configuration or NES category; The remaining activity time of the cell is determined, at least in part, based on the NES configuration; as well as One or more cell sleep conditions are evaluated based at least in part on UE cell activity thresholds, UE cell sleep thresholds, and UE power-saving states supported by the cells.

11. The processor of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to determine whether the one or more cell sleep conditions include: The remaining activity time of the cell is greater than the UE cell activity threshold; as well as The cell shutdown period is longer than the UE cell sleep threshold.

12. The processor of claim 11, wherein the shutdown period of the cell is the discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception (DTX / DRX) shutdown time of the cell.

13. The processor of claim 11, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to perform one of the following: prioritizing (re-selecting) the cell if the one or more cell dormancy conditions are met, or reducing the priority of (re-selecting) the cell if the one or more cell dormancy conditions are not met.

14. The processor of claim 11, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to: Receive discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception DTX / DRX configuration from the cell; and The remaining activity time of the cell is determined based on the cell's activation duration, the starting time slot of the DTX / DRX configuration, and the offset of the DTX / DRX configuration.

15. The processor of claim 14, wherein the cell's shutdown period is derived based on the cell's on duration and the periodicity of the DTX / DRX configuration.

16. The processor of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to perform cell (re)selection at least in part based on the NES configuration and the UE power-saving state.

17. The processor of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to: firstly, based on the UE power-saving state, and subsequently, based on the one or more cell sleep conditions, prioritize (re)select the cell.

18. The processor of claim 10, wherein the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to: firstly, based on the one or more cell sleep conditions, and subsequently, based on the UE power-saving state, prioritize (re)select the cell.

19. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Receive instructions for one or more of the following: Network Energy Saving NES configuration or NES category; The remaining activity time of the cell is determined, at least in part, based on the NES configuration; as well as One or more cell sleep conditions are evaluated based at least in part on the UE cell activity threshold, the UE cell sleep threshold, and the UE power-saving states supported by the cell.

20. A network device NE for wireless communication, comprising: At least one memory; as well as At least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and configured to cause the NE: Establish energy-saving priorities based at least on network energy saving and user equipment (UE) energy saving; as well as The UE sends an NES configuration mapped to a network power saving NES category, and the UE establishes (re)selection priorities based on the NES configuration, at least in part, the network power saving and the UE power saving.

Images