Method, device, and system for data transmission in a wireless network

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to methods, devices, and systems for congestion control in a wireless network. One method implemented by a first network element is disclosed. The method may include providing, to a second network element, a DTX configuration for a cell associated with the second network element; providing, to a wireless device served by the cell, a CDRX configuration for the wireless device based on the DTX configuration; and transmitting data to the wireless device according to the DTX configuration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to methods, devices, and systems for data transmission in a wireless network.

Background Art

[0002] Background Controlling power consumption and reducing energy costs are important for developing and deploying wireless communication networks. Energy-saving technologies are important for achieving this goal. With the development of wireless communication technologies, more and more elements and functions are added, thereby increasing the complexity of power control. It is important to have the ability to control power consumption in various network elements such as base stations and UEs, while still meeting performance requirements. It is also beneficial to be able to develop power control strategies in base stations targeting different levels.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] Summary The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for data transmission in a wireless network.

[0004] In some embodiments, a method implemented by a first network element is disclosed. The method may include providing, to a second network element, a discontinuous transmission (DTX) configuration for a cell associated with the second network element; providing, to a wireless device served by the cell, a connected mode discontinuous reception (CDRX) configuration for the wireless device based on the DTX configuration; and transmitting data to the wireless device according to the DTX configuration.

[0005] In some embodiments, a method implemented by a first node within a network element is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from a second node within the network element, a first message comprising a DTX configuration for a cell managed by the network element, and transmitting data to a wireless device according to the DTX configuration via a relay of a DU of the network element, wherein the wireless device is served by the cell.

[0006] In some embodiments, a method implemented by a first base station is disclosed. The method may include providing, to a core network, a DTX configuration for a cell within the first base station, and receiving, from the core network, data for a wireless device served by the cell based on the DTX configuration.

[0007] In some embodiments, a method implemented by a first base station is disclosed. The method includes providing, to a second base station, a DTX configuration for a cell within the first base station, and receiving, from the second base station, data for a wireless device served by the cell, wherein the data is transmitted by the second base station based on the DTX configuration, and transmitting the data to the wireless device based on the DTX configuration.

[0008] In some embodiments, there is a network element or network node comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to read code from the memory and implement any of the methods described in any of the embodiments.

[0009] In some embodiments, a computer program product comprises computer-readable program media code stored thereon, the code causing a processor to implement any of the methods described in any of the embodiments when executed by the processor.

[0010] The above embodiments, as well as other aspects and alternative forms of their implementations, will be described in more detail in the following drawings, description, and claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0021] Detailed Description Wireless Communication Network FIG. 1 shows an exemplary wireless communication network 100 that includes a core network 110 and a radio access network (RAN) 120. The core network 110 further includes at least one mobility management entity (MME) 112 and / or at least one access and mobility management function (AMF). Other functions that may be included in the core network 110 are not shown in FIG. 1. The RAN 120 further includes a plurality of base stations, such as base stations 122 and 124. The base stations may include at least one evolved Node B (eNB) for 4G LTE, an extended LTE eNB (ng-eNB), or a next generation Node B (gNB) for 5G New Radio (NR), or any other type of signal transmitting and receiving device such as a UMTS Node B. The eNB 122 communicates with the MME 112 via an S1 interface. Both the eNB 122 and the gNB 124 may be connected to the AMF 114 via an Ng interface. Each base station manages and supports at least one cell. For example, the base station gNB 124 may be configured to manage and support Cell 1, Cell 2, and Cell 3.

[0022] gNB 124 may include a central unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU). The CU and the DU may be located at the same location or may be split into different locations. The CU and the DU may be connected via an F1 interface. Alternatively, an eNB that can be connected to a 5G network may also be split into a CU and at least one DU, which are referred to as ng-eNB-CU and ng-eNB-DU, respectively. The ng-eNB-CU and the ng-eNB-DU may be connected via a W1 interface.

[0023] The wireless communication network 100 may include one or more tracking areas. A tracking area may include a set of cells managed by at least one base station. For example, tracking area 1 labeled 140 includes cells 1, 2, and 3, and although not shown in FIG. 1, may further include more cells that can be managed by other base stations. The wireless communication network 100 may also include at least one UE 160. The UE may select a cell from among a plurality of cells supported by a base station to communicate with the base station via an over-the-air (OTA) wireless communication interface and resources. Then, when the UE 160 moves within the wireless communication network 100, it may reselect a cell for communication. For example, the UE 160 may first select cell 1 to communicate with base station 124 and then, at a later point in time, reselect cell 2. The cell selection or reselection by the UE 160 may be based on the wireless signal strength / quality in various cells and other factors.

[0024] The wireless communication network 100 can be implemented as, for example, a 2G, 3G, 4G / LTE, or 5G cellular communication network. Correspondingly, the base stations 122 and 124 can be implemented as 2G base stations, 3G Node Bs, LTE eNBs, or 5G NR gNBs. The UE 160 can be implemented as a mobile or stationary communication device that can access the wireless communication network 100. The UE 160 can include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a wearable device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an MTC / eMTC device, a distributed remote sensor device, a roadside assistance device, an XR device, and a desktop computer. The UE 160 can generally also be referred to as a wireless communication device, or a wireless terminal. The UE 160 can support sidelink communication with another UE via the PC5 interface.

[0025] The following description focuses on a cellular wireless communication system as shown in FIG. 1, but the underlying principles are applicable to other types of wireless communication systems for paging wireless devices. These other wireless systems can include, but are not limited to, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, and WiMax networks.

[0026] Figure 2 shows an example of an electronic device 200 for implementing a network base station (e.g., a radio access network node), a core network (CN), and / or operations and maintenance (OAM). Optionally, in one implementation, the exemplary electronic device 200 may include a radio transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) circuit 208 for transmitting / receiving communications with a UE and / or other base stations. Optionally, in one implementation, the electronic device 200 may also include a network interface circuit 209 for communicating the base station with other base stations and / or a core network, e.g., an optical or wired interconnect, Ethernet®, and / or other data transmission media / protocols. The electronic device 200 may optionally include an input / output (I / O) interface 206 for communicating with an operator, etc.

[0027] The electronic device 200 may also include a system circuit 204. The system circuit 204 may include a processor 221 and / or a memory 222. The memory 222 may include an operating system 224, instructions 226, and parameters 228. The instructions 226 may be configured such that one or more of the processors 221 implement the functions of a network node. The parameters 228 may include parameters for supporting the execution of the instructions 226. For example, the parameters may include network protocol settings, bandwidth parameters, radio frequency mapping assignments, and / or other parameters.

[0028] Figure 3 shows an example of an electronic device for implementing a terminal device 300 (e.g., a user equipment (UE)). The UE 300 can be a mobile device, e.g., a smartphone or a mobile communication module installed in a vehicle. The UE 300 can include some or all of a communication interface 302, a system circuit 304, an input / output interface (I / O) 306, a display circuit 308, and a storage device 309. The display circuit can include a user interface 310. The system circuit 304 can include any combination of hardware, software, firmware, or other logic / circuits. The system circuit 304 can be implemented, for example, using one or more system-on-chips (SoCs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), individual analog and digital circuits, and other circuits. The system circuit 304 can be part of the implementation of any desired function in the UE 300. In this regard, the system circuit 304 can include, by way of example, logic for decoding and playing music and videos, e.g., decoding and playing MP3, MP4, MPEG, AVI, FLAC, AC3, or WAV, executing applications, accepting user input, storing and retrieving application data, establishing, maintaining, and terminating a data connection for a cellular phone call or, by way of example, an Internet connection, establishing, maintaining, and terminating a wireless network connection, a Bluetooth® connection, or other connections, and displaying relevant information on the user interface 310. The user interface 310 and the input / output (I / O) interface 306 can include a graphical user interface, a touch-sensitive display, tactile feedback or other tactile outputs, voice or face recognition inputs, buttons, switches, speakers, and other user interface elements. Further examples of the I / O interface 306 can include a microphone, a video and still image camera, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a rotation and orientation sensor, a headset and microphone input / output jack, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a memory card slot, a radiation sensor (e.g., an IR sensor), and other types of inputs.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, the communication interface 302 may include radio frequency (RF) transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) circuitry 316 that processes the transmission and reception of signals via one or more antennas 314. The communication interface 302 may include one or more transceivers. The transceiver may be a wireless transceiver that includes modulation / demodulation circuitry, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), shaping tables, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), filters, waveform shapers, filters, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers, and / or other logic for transmitting and receiving via one or more antennas or, in the case of some devices, via a physical (e.g., wired) medium. The signals transmitted and received may conform to any of a variety of arrays of format, protocol, modulation (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, or 256-QAM), frequency channel, bit rate, and encoding. As one specific example, the communication interface 302 may include a transceiver that supports transmission and reception under 2G, 3G, BT, WiFi, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)+, 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE), and 5G standards. However, the techniques described below are applicable to other wireless communication technologies regardless of whether they originated from the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (R)), GSM (R) Association, 3GPP2, IEEE, or other partnership or standards body.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, the system circuit 304 may include one or more processors 321 and a memory 322. The memory 322 stores, for example, an operating system 324, instructions 326, and parameters 328. The processor 321 is configured to execute the instructions 326 to perform desired functions for the UE 300. The parameters 328 may provide and specify the configuration and operation options of the instructions 326. The memory 322 may also store any BT, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, or other data sent or received by the UE 300 via the communication interface 302. In various implementations, the system power of the UE 300 may be supplied by a power storage device such as a battery or a transformer.

[0031] CDRX and DTX In a wireless communication network, a UE may always listen / monitor the network (e.g., a base station) to check whether there is new downlink data. The UE may also need to wait for an uplink grant to transmit uplink data. A notification about scheduled downlink data or an uplink transmission grant may arrive via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that the UE needs to monitor. Always listening / monitoring the network is not power-efficient and quickly drains the UE's battery. For example, when the traffic for the UE is light, the UE still needs to stay awake to monitor the PDCCH even without downlink reception or uplink transmission for the UE. To reduce the power consumption of the UE, a connected mode discontinuous reception (CDRX) function is introduced. When CDRX is configured for the UE, each CDRX cycle (which may also be referred to as a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle) may include one "on" period and one "off" period. The UE does not need to continuously monitor the PDCCH, monitors the PDCCH only during the "on" period, and switches to the sleep mode during the "off" period. In the sleep mode, the UE may turn off specific hardware circuits such as a radio frequency (RF) chain to reduce the power consumption.

[0032] Remaining in the "on" state all the time can result in low power efficiency, so the same concept can also be applied to the base station side. To reduce power consumption in the base station, the base station can transmit data to the UE discontinuously. For example, in the case of a specific UE, the base station can transmit UE data during the "on" period of the UE's CDRX cycle. However, from the perspective of the cell serving the UE, since the cell may need to serve multiple UEs, and if the "on" periods of these UEs are not aligned, the cell still needs to wake up frequently for data transmission during the various "on" periods of these UEs. Therefore, the energy-saving performance of the base station is sacrificed.

[0033] To further reduce the energy consumption of the gNB, in the present disclosure, a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode is introduced. The DTX mode can be applied at various levels such as the cell level, cell group level, DU level, DU group level, or the entire base station level. Taking the cell as an example and referring to FIG. 4, when the DTX mode is applied to the cell, the cell can be composed of DTX cycles 412. Each DTX cycle 412 may include an "on" period 414 and an "off" period 416. The cell can transmit downlink data to the served UE only during the "on" period to reduce power consumption and interrupt data transmission during the "off" period.

[0034] When both the UE's CDRX and the cell's DTX are applied, if the CDRX configuration for the UE and the DTX configuration for the cell are not determined considering each other, there may be problems with network performance. For example, in the worst case, if the "on" period of the cell does not overlap with the "on" period of the UE, data transmission to the UE may fail. This situation can be referred to as a mismatch between the CDRX configuration and the DTX configuration. To avoid this situation, a collaborative effort is required when determining the DTX configuration and / or the CDRX configuration, so these two configurations are made to match.

[0035] The DTX mode can also affect base stations that use a distributed architecture such as a gNB. In a gNB, the CU and DU are separated, and the CU control plane (gNB-CU-CP) and the CU user plane (gNB-CU-UP) can also be separated. Cooperative efforts between the CU and DU, as well as between gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP, are required when configuring the DTX mode. The cooperative efforts may also need to consider the CDRX configuration for the UE.

[0036] Furthermore, when the cell is in an energy-saving mode during the DTX "off" period, it is beneficial for the cell not to receive UE data from the core network (CN) or (e.g., in a dual connectivity scenario) another base station. Otherwise, the cell may need to wake up frequently to transmit UE data, or the cell may need to buffer the received UE data and wait for the "on" period to transmit. When the cell buffers UE data, if the UE data is urgent or has low latency requirements, the UE data transmission may not meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements. Furthermore, the buffering capacity of the cell, or the base station hosting the cell, may be limited, and an overflow state that can lead to data loss may occur.

[0037] The above description uses a cell as an example. The same basic concept can also be applied to cell groups, DUs, DU groups, and base stations.

[0038] In this disclosure, various embodiments are disclosed for the purpose of reducing power consumption in a base station. These embodiments are directed at least to the following. · Configure DTX for a cell, cell group, DU, DU group, or the entire base station. · Configure CDRX for the UE. · Send or exchange DTX configurations and / or CDRX configurations between various network elements. ·End-to-end UE data transmission procedures based on DTX configuration and CDRX configuration.

[0039] The details of these embodiments are described below.

[0040] Embodiment 1: Cooperation between UE DRX and cell DTX In a wireless communication network, a base station may manage or support a plurality of cells. A base station under a distributed architecture such as a gNB may distribute cells among DUs. Each cell may support or serve a plurality of UEs operating in the connected state.

[0041] In the present disclosure, for the purpose of reducing at least the energy consumption in the base station, the DTX mode is introduced. The DTX mode can be applied to various levels targeting different granularities. For example, DTX can be applied at the cell level, cell group level, DU level, DU group level, base station level, etc. In the present disclosure, the description may be made at the cell level for illustrative purposes. The same basic principle applies to other levels as well.

[0042] The DTX mode can be configured by a DTX configuration. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary DTX configuration 410 for a cell (or gNB if the DTX mode is applied at the gNB level) serving UE1 and UE2. As shown in FIG. 4, the DTX configuration may include a DTX cycle 412. Within each DTX cycle, there is an on period 414 during which the cell can transmit downlink data to its served UEs. Following the on period 414 is an off period 416 during which the cell does not transmit downlink data. The off period 416 can be considered as a power saving period or low energy consumption period of the cell because related hardware such as the radio frequency chain and transmission (TX) circuit can be turned off to save power.

[0043] In one implementation, the on period in the DTX cycle can be displayed, tracked, or associated with a timer such as onDurationTimer.

[0044] In one implementation, the off period in the DTX cycle may be displayed or associated with a timer such as an offDurationTimer.

[0045] In one implementation, a list of DTX configurations may be configured as candidate configurations. The DTX configuration can be selected from this list and activated / applied, for example, via signaling or based on a predetermined rule.

[0046] In one implementation, the DTX mode can be applied at the DU level. In this case, a single DTX configuration may be configured at the DU level, or the DTX configuration may be applied to all cells managed or supported by the DU.

[0047] In one implementation, the DTX mode can be applied or activated when certain conditions are met. For example, the DTX mode can be applied when the number of UEs served by a cell is lower or higher than a threshold. The threshold may be signaled or predefined. In another example, a specific DTX configuration may be selected based on the number of UEs served by a cell.

[0048] As described above, depending on the level at which the DTX mode is applied, the DTX mode can determine the on / off behavior of a cell, a group of cells, a DU, a group of DUs, or a base station. Taking a cell as an example, the DTX configuration of the cell may need to be coordinated with the CDRX configuration of the UEs served by the cell to ensure that the UEs are awake when the cell is transmitting data to the UEs during the DTX "on" period of the cell.

[0049] In an exemplary implementation, the base station may configure the CDRX configuration of the UE such that the DRX on period of the UE is fully or partially aligned with the DTX on period of the serving cell of the UE. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between an exemplary CDRX configuration 420 for UE1 and a DTX configuration 410. In the case of UE1, the DRX on period 422 is within the duration of the DTX on period 414 of the cell serving UE1. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the DRX on period 422 and the DTX on period 414 start at the same time. The entire DRX on period 422 overlaps with the DTX on period 414. Although not shown in FIG. 4, in an alternative implementation, the DRX on period and the DTX on period may start at different times. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the DRX on period of the UE may partially overlap with the DTX on period of the cell serving the UE.

[0050] FIG. 4 further shows an exemplary CDRX configuration 430 for UE2. UE2 has a DRX on period 432, which is also within the duration of the DTX on period 414 of the cell. As shown in FIG. 4, 432 lasts longer than 422.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the CDRX configuration of the UE correlates with the DTX configuration of the cell (or a group of cells, DU, gNB, etc.).

[0052] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the cell may transmit downlink data to UE1 during 422 and downlink data to UE2 during 432. The cell may switch to a power-saving mode during the off period 416 to reduce power consumption. According to an exemplary embodiment, the CDRX configuration of the UE, or a part of the CDRX configuration, may be determined according to the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE.

[0053] In some exemplary implementations, the DRX on period of the UE (e.g., 422, 432) may be configured directly based on the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE.

[0054] In some other exemplary implementations, the DRX on-duration (e.g., 422, 432) may be indirectly determined by, or may depend on, one or more other CDRX configuration parameters. To meet the alignment requirements of the on-duration as described above (i.e., the UE's DRX on-duration and the cell's DTX on-duration), at least one of the following CDRX configuration parameters may need to be configured according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell. · DRX cycle: The duration of "DRX on-duration" + "DRX off-duration", such as the DRX cycle 434 shown in FIG. 4. The DRX cycle may also be referred to as the CDRX cycle. · shortDRX-cycle: A DRX cycle that can be implemented within the "off" period of the long DRX cycle. · onDurationTimer: A timer that indicates the duration of the "on-time" within one DRX cycle. · drx-Inactivity timer: This parameter may specify how long the UE should stay "on" after receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). · drx-Retransmission timer: This parameter may specify the maximum number of consecutive PDCCH subframes for which the UE should remain active to wait for a retransmission that arrives after the first available retransmission time. · drxShortCycleTimer: The number of consecutive subframes for which the UE follows (or is applied) the short DRX cycle after the DRX Inactivity Timer expires.

[0055] Note that these parameters are for illustrative purposes only. In actual use, to meet the alignment requirements of the on-duration, parameters with different names but similar functionality may be selected and may be configured according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell.

[0056] In some exemplary implementations, at least a part of the DTX configuration and at least a part of the CDRX configuration can be determined by the CU of the base station.

[0057] In some other exemplary implementations, at least a part of the DTX configuration and at least a part of the CDRX configuration can be determined by the DU of the base station.

[0058] Embodiment 2: Configuring DTX via the F1 interface As shown in FIG. 4 and as described in Embodiment 1, the CDRX configuration of the UE correlates with the DTX configuration of the cell. Therefore, when the radio communication network determines the CDRX configuration for the UE, the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE may need to be referred to. And / or when the radio communication network determines the DTX configuration of the cell, the CDRX configuration of the UE served by the cell may need to be referred to.

[0059] Furthermore, in the case of a base station under a distributed architecture such as a gNB, the CU and the DU may need to communicate with each other to exchange the DTX configuration (e.g., for a cell, a group of cells, etc.) and / or the CDRX configuration of the UE.

[0060] For example, the CDRX configuration including the DRX cycle of the UE can be configured by the CU. Therefore, since the CU may need to recognize the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE, the CU can configure the CDRX configuration of the UE to be matched with the DTX configuration.

[0061] On the other hand, in order to reduce power consumption, the DU can transmit data to the UE discontinuously according to the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE. In doing so, the DU may need to recognize the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE.

[0062] In this embodiment, various options for exchanging the DTX configuration between the CU and the DU are described.

[0063] Option 1: The DU configures the DTX configuration Figure 5A shows the message flow and network element interactions for Option 1.

[0064] Step 1: The DU may configure or determine the DTX configuration of the cells within the DU (i.e., the cells managed or supported by the DU), and send a message such as an F1 setup request message or a GNB-DU configuration update message to the CU to transfer or update the configuration data required by the CU and the DU. The required configuration data may include the DTX configuration of the cell, the group of cells served by the DU, etc.

[0065] Note that the DU may be able to send a GNB-DU configuration update message to the CU only after the F1 interface between the CU and the DU has been established.

[0066] Step 2: The CU may send a response message to the DU.

[0067] Option 2: The CU configures the DTX configuration Figure 5B illustrates the message flow and network element interactions for Option 2.

[0068] Step 1: The DU may send a message such as an F1 setup request message or a GNB-DU configuration update message to the CU to transfer or update the configuration data required by the CU and the DU (note that the configuration data within this step does not include the DTX configuration within this step).

[0069] Note that the DU may be able to send a GNB-DU configuration update message to the CU only after the F1 interface between the CU and the DU has been established.

[0070] Step 2: The CU may configure or determine the DTX configuration for one or more active cells in the DU. The CU may then send a message, such as an F1 setup response message or a GNB-DU configuration update confirmation message, to the DU. The message may include the DTX configuration of the active cells under the DU. In some implementations, the message may include the DTX configuration of all cells (i.e., not only active cells) under the DU.

[0071] Step 3: This step is optional. After the F1 interface is established, if the CU updates the DTX configuration of the cells or active cells under the DU, the CU may send a message, such as a GNB-CU configuration update message, to the DU. The message may include the DTX configuration of the cell or active cell.

[0072] Step 4: The DU may send a response message to the CU as a response to the message in Step 3.

[0073] As described above, the DTX configuration may be applied to various levels targeting different granularities. For example, the DTX configuration may be applied at the cell level, gNB level, etc. In the case of the gNB-level DTX configuration, the gNB may configure the same DTX configuration for all its cells. For example, the DTX configuration may be configured for the gNB and then applied to all cells within the gNB. In some implementations, not all cells under the gNB support the DTX mode. In this case, the DTX configuration may be applied to all cells that support the DTX mode.

[0074] In some implementations, there may be an override mechanism. The gNB may be configured with a gNB-level DTX configuration that may be applied to all its cells. The cells under the gNB may be further equipped with different DTX configurations that may be used to override the gNB-level DTX configuration.

[0075] Embodiment 3: Configure CDRX for the UE This embodiment describes the interaction between the DU, CU, and UE for determining and configuring the UE's CDRX configuration.

[0076] Figure 6 shows the message flow and network element interaction for this embodiment.

[0077] Step 1: The CU is aware of the DTX configuration of the cells under the DU. Thus, the CU may determine the DRX cycle for the UE according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell so that the UE's DRX cycle can be aligned with the DTX cycle of the UE's serving cell. The DRX cycle is part of the UE's CDRX configuration and can be represented by numbers such as frames, sub - frames, slots, symbols, etc.

[0078] The CU may send UE context - related messages, such as a UE context setup request message or a UE context modification request message, to the DU to establish or modify the UE context. The UE context may include the UE's DRX cycle.

[0079] In some exemplary implementations, as an alternative to sending the DTX configuration of the cell to the DU, UE context - related messages may also use the F1 interface setup / modification procedure to send the DTX configuration (described in Embodiment 2), while it may be used by the CU to send the DTX configuration to the DU.

[0080] Step 2: The DU may configure or determine the remaining CDRX configuration for the UE according to both the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell and the UE's DRX cycle (when the DRX cycle is sent to the DU in step 1). Then, the DU may send a response message, such as a UE context setup response message or a UE context modification response message, including the CDRX configuration for the UE (regardless of the presence or absence of the DRX cycle), to the CU. In some implementations, the CDRX configuration may be wrapped or encapsulated in a radio resource control (RRC) container.

[0081] Step 3: The CU may send the UE's CDRX configuration to the UE via an RRC message.

[0082] Embodiment 4: The base station sends the DTX configuration to the core network (CN) This embodiment describes the message flow between the base station and the CN for passing the DTX configuration. The CN may generally refer to the core network or a node within the core network. The DTX configuration may be per cell, per cell group, per DU, per DU group, per base station, etc.

[0083] Figure 7 shows an exemplary message flow of this embodiment.

[0084] When the cell is in the energy-saving mode during the DTX "off" period, it is beneficial for the cell not to receive UE data from the CN. Otherwise, the cell may need to wake up frequently to transmit UE data, or the cell may need to buffer the received UE data and wait for the DTX "on" period to transmit it. When the cell buffers UE data, if the UE data is urgent or has low-latency requirements, UE data transmission may not meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements. Furthermore, the buffering capacity of the cell or the base station hosting the cell may be limited, and an overflow state that may lead to data loss may occur. Therefore, the CN needs to recognize the DTX configuration of the cell to determine the timing for transferring UE data to the gNB / cell. In this embodiment, a solution is provided for transmitting the DTX configuration to the CN via the NG interface setup / modification procedure.

[0085] Step 1: The base station (e.g., gNB) may send a message such as an NG setup request message or an RAN configuration update message to the CN to configure the DTX configuration of its cell and transfer or update the configuration data required by the base station and the CN. This message may include the DTX configuration of the cells under the base station.

[0086] Step 2: The CN may send a response message, which is a response to the message in Step 1, to the base station.

[0087] As described above, the DTX configuration can be applied at various levels targeting different granularities. For example, the DTX configuration can be applied at the cell level, gNB level, etc. In the case of the DTX configuration at the gNB level, the gNB may configure the same DTX configuration for all its cells. For example, the DTX configuration can be configured for the gNB and then applied to all the cells within the gNB. In this case, only the DTX configuration at the gNB level may need to be sent to the CN.

[0088] Embodiment 5: End-to-End Discontinuous Data Transmission Procedure This embodiment describes an end-to-end data transmission procedure based on the DTX configuration of the cell and the CDRX configuration of the UE served by the cell. For an exemplary message flow and the interaction between various network elements, refer to FIG. 8.

[0089] Step 1: The gNB may configure the DTX configuration of the gNB cell.

[0090] Step 2: In this step, the NG interface between the CN and the gNB is established, and the CN may become aware of the DTX configuration of the gNB cell, for example, by the NG setup / modification procedure described in Embodiment 4.

[0091] Step 3: The CN may send a message such as an initial context setup request message or a protocol data unit (PDU) session setup request message to the gNB to request resource allocation for one or more PDU sessions for the UE.

[0092] If the PDU session has already been set up, the CN may send a PDU session resource modification request message to request modification of the UE's existing PDU session resources.

[0093] Step 4: The radio bearer (RB) between the gNB and the UE may be set up or modified in this step.

[0094] The gNB may configure the CDRX configuration of the UE according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell and then send it to the UE via an RRC message.

[0095] Step 5: The gNB may send a response message such as an initial context setup response message, a PDU session setup response message, or a PDU session resource modification response message to the CN as a response to the message sent to the gNB in step 3. The response message may include the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE.

[0096] As previously described in Embodiment 4, the gNB may send the DTX configuration of the cell to the CN via the NG interface setup / modification procedure. This step in this embodiment introduces an alternative method for the gNB to send the DTX configuration to the CN by using a response message.

[0097] Step 6: The PDU session is established / modified among the CN, the gNB, and the UE.

[0098] Step 7: The CN transmits UE data to the gNB discontinuously according to the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE. In other words, when the cell is in the energy-saving mode during the DTX "off" period, the CN may interrupt sending data to the gNB. The CN may send data to the gNB only during the DTX "on" period of the cell. Under this discontinuous transmission mechanism, the cell may be relieved from waking up frequently to transmit data, and / or the cell may buffer the received UE data and does not need to wait for the "on" period to transmit to the UE. Therefore, the problem of data loss caused by the overflow of the cell / gNB buffer can be solved.

[0099] Step 8: Similarly, the gNB may transmit UE data to the UE according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell. In other words, the gNB transmits downlink data to the UE only during the DTX "on" period of the cell and switches to an energy-saving state during the "off" period of the cell. In this way, the energy-saving goal can be achieved at the cell level. Similarly, the DTX mode may be applied to a group of cells, a DU, a group of DUs, or the entire gNB, and power saving can be achieved at the corresponding level.

[0100] Step 9: The UE monitors / receives downlink data according to the CDRX configuration aligned with the DTX configuration of its serving cell.

[0101] Embodiment 6: Support for gNB Discontinuous Data Transmission Procedure This embodiment describes an end-to-end data transmission procedure based on the DTX configuration of the cell and the CDRX configuration of the UE served by the cell. For an exemplary message flow and the interaction between various network elements, refer to FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the UE has dual connectivity with gNB1 and gNB2.

[0102] Step 1: During the Xn interface setup / modification phase, gNB1 may send a message such as an NG setup request message or a RAN node configuration update message to gNB2 to set up or modify the Xn interface between gNB1 and gNB2. The message may include the DTX configuration of the cell (or cells) under gNB1.

[0103] Step 2: gNB2 may send a response message such as an NG setup response message or a RAN node configuration confirmation response message to gNB1. The response message may include the DTX configuration of the cell (or cells) under gNB2.

[0104] Step 3: gNB1 is connected to the CN.

[0105] Step 4: A PDU session is established among the CN, gNB1, gNB2, and the UE. The UE is under dual connectivity (DC) with Cell 1 (within gNB1) and Cell 2 (within gNB2). In this case, gNB2 acts as a secondary gNB in the sense that gNB2 transmits split traffic from gNB1 (i.e., gNB1 may offload some traffic for the UE to gNB2). Note that Cell 2 of gNB2 supports the DTX mode.

[0106] Step 5: The CN sends UE data to the connected base station which is gNB1 (see Step 3).

[0107] Step 6: gNB1 may transmit UE data to gNB2 discontinuously according to the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE which is Cell 2 of gNB2. In other words, if Cell 2 is in the energy-saving mode during the DTX "off" period, gNB1 may interrupt sending data to Cell 2. gNB1 sends data to Cell 2 only during the DTX "on" period of Cell 2. Under this discontinuous transmission mechanism, Cell 2 may be relieved from waking up frequently to transmit data, and / or Cell 2 may buffer the received UE data and does not need to wait for the "on" period to transmit to the UE, thus the data loss problem caused by Cell 2 / gNB2 buffer overflow can be solved.

[0108] Step 7: Similarly, gNB2 may transmit the UE's data to the UE according to the DTX configuration of the serving cell of the UE that is cell 2 of gNB2. In other words, gNB2 transmits downlink data to the UE only during the DTX "on" period of cell 2, and may switch to an energy-saving state during the DTX "off" period of cell 2. In this way, the energy-saving goal can be achieved at the cell level (i.e., cell 2). Similarly, the DTX mode may be applied to a group of cells, a DU, a group of DUs, or the entire gNB, and power savings can be achieved at the corresponding level.

[0109] Step 8: The UE monitors / receives downlink data according to its CDRX configuration in cell 2. In some exemplary implementations, the UE may be configured with multiple CDRX configurations. For example, the UE may apply / activate a CDRX configuration for each cell it is connected to. For example, the UE may apply a first CDRX configuration to the first cell it connects to, and may apply a second CDRX configuration to the second cell it connects to.

[0110] Embodiment 7: DTX Configuration for gNB-CU-UP In the case of a base station such as a gNB, the CU and DU may be separated. The CU may be further separated into two nodes (gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP, respectively) corresponding to the control plane and the user plane. These two nodes may be in the form of physical nodes or logical nodes.

[0111] When the cell is in the energy-saving mode during the DTX "off" period, it is beneficial for the cell not to receive UE data from the gNB-CU-UP. Otherwise, the cell may need to wake up frequently to transmit UE data, or the cell may need to buffer the received UE data and wait for the DTX "on" period to transmit it. When the cell buffers UE data, and if the UE data is urgent or has low-latency requirements, UE data transmission may not meet the QoS requirements. Furthermore, the buffering capacity of the cell or the base station hosting the cell may be limited, and an overflow state that may lead to data loss may occur. Therefore, the gNB-CU-UP may need to recognize the DTX configuration of the cell in order to transmit the UE data to the DU accordingly. In this embodiment, two options are provided for transmitting the DTX configuration to the gNB-CU-UP.

[0112] Option 1: For an exemplary message flow between the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-CP-UP for transferring the DTX configuration, refer to FIG. 10A.

[0113] Step 1: The gNB-CU-CP may send a message such as a GNB-CU-CP E1 setup request message or a GNB-CU-CP configuration update message to the gNB-CU-UP to transfer or update the configuration data required for the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-UP. The configuration data may include the DTX configuration of the gNB cell.

[0114] Step 2: The gNB-CU-UP may send a response message to the gNB-CU-CP.

[0115] Option 2: For an exemplary message flow between the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-CP-UP for transferring the DTX configuration, refer to FIG. 10B.

[0116] Step 1: The gNB-CU-UP may send a message such as a GNB-CU-UP E1 setup request message or a GNB-CU-UP configuration update message to the gNB-CU-CP to transfer or update the configuration data required for the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-UP.

[0117] Step 2: The gNB-CU-CP may send a response message such as a GNB-CU-UP E1 setup response message or a GNB-CU-UP configuration confirmation message to the gNB-CU-UP to transfer or update the configuration data required for the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-UP. The configuration data may include the DTX configuration of the gNB cell.

[0118] Embodiment 8: Exemplary discontinuous data transmission procedure This embodiment shows an end-to-end UE data transmission procedure in which the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-UP are separated. For an exemplary message flow and the interaction between various network elements, refer to FIG. 11.

[0119] Step 1: The gNB-CU-CP may send a message such as a bearer context setup request message or a bearer context modification request message to the gNB-CU-UP to set up or modify the UE's bearer context. The message may include the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell.

[0120] Note that as an alternative to sending the DTX configuration of the cell to the gNB-CU-UP, the gNB-CU-CP may use the aforementioned bearer context-related messages to send the DTX configuration to the gNB-CU-UP when setting up or modifying the UE bearer in the gNB-CU-UP.

[0121] Step 2: The gNB-CU-UP can send a response message to the gNB-CU-CP.

[0122] Step 3: In this step, a PDU session associated with the bearer context can be established (if it does not already exist) or modified (if it already exists). As shown in Figure 11, the PDU session can be between the CN, the gNB (including gNB-DU, gNB-CU-CP, and gNB-CU-UP), and the UE.

[0123] Step 4: The CN can send UE data to the gNB-CU-UP discontinuously according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell.

[0124] Step 5: Similarly, the gNB-CU-UP can send UE data to the DU according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell. That is, the gNB-CU-UP can send UE downlink data to the DU only during the DTX "on" period of the UE's serving cell.

[0125] Step 6: The DU can send UE data to the UE according to the DTX configuration of the UE's serving cell (managed by the DU). That is, the DU can send downlink data to the UE only during the DTX "on" period of the serving cell and can switch to an energy-saving state during the DTX "off" period of the UE's serving cell. In this way, the energy-saving goal can be achieved.

[0126] Step 7: The UE monitors / receives downlink data according to its CDRX configuration.

[0127] The above description and the accompanying drawings provide specific exemplary embodiments and implementations. However, the described subject matter may be embodied in a variety of different forms, and accordingly, it is intended that the subject matter being targeted or claimed is not limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described herein. A reasonably broad scope for the claimed or targeted subject matter is intended. In particular, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as a method, device, component, system, or non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing computer code. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of, for example, hardware, software, firmware, storage media, or any combination thereof. For example, embodiments of the methods described above may be implemented by a component, device, or system including a memory and a processor by executing computer code stored in the memory.

[0128] Throughout this specification and the claims, terms may have subtly different meanings presented or suggested in the context that go beyond the explicitly described meaning. Similarly, the phrase "in one embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, the subject matter recited in the claims is intended to include, in whole or in part, combinations of exemplary embodiments.

[0129] Generally, terms can be understood at least in part from their usage in context. For example, terms such as "and", "or", or "and / or" as used herein can include various meanings that can depend at least in part on the context in which such terms are used. Typically, "or" when used to associate a list such as A, B, or C is intended to mean A, B, and C when used in an inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C when used in an exclusive sense. Further, the term "one or more" as used herein can, depending at least in part on the context, be used to describe any feature, structure, or property in a singular sense or to describe a combination of features, structures, or properties in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as "a", "an", or "the" can be understood, depending at least in part on the context, to convey either a singular or a plural usage. Further, the term "based on" can be understood not necessarily to convey a set of exclusive factors, but rather, depending at least in part on the context, to allow for the presence of additional factors that are not necessarily explicitly described.

[0130] Throughout this specification, references to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all features and advantages that can be realized by the solution should be or are included in any single implementation. Rather, the language referring to features and advantages is understood to mean that a particular feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the solution. Thus, discussions of features and advantages throughout this specification, and similar language, while not necessarily always referring to the same embodiment, can refer to the same embodiment.

[0131] Furthermore, the features, advantages, and characteristics described in this solution can be combined in any suitable way in one or more embodiments. A person skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the solution can be implemented without having one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the solution.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication implemented by a first network element, the method comprising: providing, to a second network element, a discontinuous transmission (DTX) configuration for a cell associated with the second network element; providing, to a wireless device served by the cell, a connection mode discontinuous reception (CDRX) configuration for the wireless device based on the DTX configuration; transmitting data to the wireless device according to the DTX configuration A method comprising the above steps.

2. determining the DTX configuration for the cell; determining the CDRX configuration for the wireless device based on the DTX configuration such that an on period of the cell according to the DTX configuration is fully or partially aligned with an on period of the wireless device according to the CDRX configuration The method according to claim 1, further comprising the above steps.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a start of the on period of the cell is aligned with a start of the on period of the wireless device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a part of a duration of the on period of the wireless device overlaps with a duration of the on period of the cell, or the entire duration of the on period of the wireless device overlaps with the duration of the on period of the cell.

5. The first network element comprises a distributed unit (DU) of a first base station, the second network element comprises a central unit (CU) of the first base station, the cell is managed by the first network element, or The first network element comprises the CU of the first base station, the second network element comprises the DU of the first base station, and the cell is managed by the second network element. The method according to claim 1.

6. Transmitting the data to the wireless device comprises transmitting the data to the wireless device via a second base station according to the CDRX configuration. The method according to claim 1.

7. The DTX configuration comprises a DTX cycle, or a duration of an on time within the DTX cycle The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the above.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the duration of the on time within the DTX cycle is associated with an on duration timer.

9. wherein the CDRX configuration comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, a short DRX cycle having an off period of a long DRX cycle, a duration of an on time within the DRX cycle, a duration for which the wireless device remains on after receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a maximum duration for which the wireless device remains active to wait for a retransmission after a first available retransmission time, or a DRX short cycle timer The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the maximum duration for which the wireless device remains active to wait for the retransmission after the first available retransmission time is represented by a maximum number of consecutive PDCCH subframes.

11. wherein the first network element comprises a DU of a first base station, the second network element comprises a CU of the first base station, and the cell is managed by the first network element, providing the DTX configuration to the second network element includes transmitting, to the second network element, a first message comprising the DTX configuration, wherein the first message comprises an F1 setup request message, or a GNB-DU configuration update message The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of.

12. wherein the first network element comprises a CU of a first base station, the second network element comprises a DU of the first base station, and the cell is managed by the second network element, providing the DTX configuration to the second network element is receiving, from the second network element, a first message, wherein the first message comprises an F1 setup request message, or a GNB-DU configuration update message and transmitting, to the second network element, a response message to the first message, wherein the response message comprises the DTX configuration The method according to claim 1, comprising. The method according to claim 1, comprising.

13. wherein the first network element comprises a CU of a first base station, the second network element comprises a DU of the first base station, and the cell is managed by the second network element, Providing the DTX configuration to the second network element includes transmitting a first message comprising the DTX configuration to the second network element, wherein the first message is a GNB-CU configuration update message, a UE context setup request message, or a UE context modification request message The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the above.

14. The first network element comprises a CU of a first base station, the second network element comprises a DU of the first base station, the cell is managed by the second network element, providing the CDRX configuration for the radio device based on the DTX configuration to the radio device served by the cell includes determining a part of the CDRX configuration; and transmitting the part of the CDRX configuration to the second network element via a first message, wherein the first message is a UE context setup request message, or a UE context modification request message comprising at least one of the above, and receiving, from the second network element, a response message to the first message comprising the CDRX configuration, wherein the CDRX configuration is based on the part of the CDRX configuration, and the response message is a UE context setup response, or a UE context modification response message comprising at least one of the above The method according to claim 1 or 9, comprising the above.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the part of the CDRX configuration comprises a CDRX cycle, and at least a part of the CDRX configuration is determined by the second network element based on the part of the CDRX configuration.

16. A method for wireless communication performed by a first node in a network element, the method comprising receiving, from a second node in the network element, a first message comprising a DTX configuration for a cell managed by the network element; and transmitting data to a radio device according to the DTX configuration via a relay of the DU of the network element, wherein the radio device is served by the cell The method comprising the above.

17. The network element comprises a base station, The first node comprises a gNB-CU-UP node, The second node comprises a gNB-CU-CP node, the method according to claim 16.

18. The first message is a GNB-CU-CP E1 setup request message, or a GNB-CU-CP configuration update message The method according to claim 16, comprising at least one of.

19. Receiving the first message from the second node within the network element is transmitting a second message to the second node; and receiving, from the second node within the network element, the first message as a response to the second message, the first message comprising the DTX configuration for the cell managed by the network element. The method according to claim 16, including.

20. The second message is a GNB-CU-UP E1 setup request message, or a GNB-CU-UP configuration update message The method according to claim 19, comprising at least one of.

21. The first message is associated with the context of the wireless device and a bearer context setup request message, or a bearer context modification request message The method according to claim 16, comprising at least one of.

22. The network element comprises a base station, The first node comprises a gNB-CU-UP node, The method according to claim 21, further comprising transmitting the data to the DU of the base station according to the DTX configuration.

23. Transmitting the data to the wireless device includes transmitting the data to the DU according to the DTX configuration, and receiving the data by the DU triggers the DU to transmit the data to the wireless device according to the DTX configuration. The method according to claim 22.

24. A method for wireless communication implemented by a first base station, the method comprising: providing a DTX configuration for a cell within the first base station to a core network; and receiving data for a wireless device served by the cell from the core network based on the DTX configuration. A method including.

25. The DTX configuration is a DTX cycle, or The duration of the on-time within the DTX cycle The method according to claim 24, comprising at least one of them.

26. Providing the DTX configuration for the cell in the first base station to the core network includes transmitting a first message including the DTX configuration to the core network, wherein the first message is an NG setup request message, or a radio access network (RAN) configuration update message The method according to claim 24, comprising at least one of them.

27. Providing the DTX configuration for the cell in the first base station to the core network is Receiving, from the core network, a first message associated with a wireless device served by the cell, wherein the first message is an initial context setup request message, a protocol data unit (PDU) session setup request message, or a PDU session resource modification request message Comprising at least one of them, and Transmitting, to the core network, a response message to the first message, wherein the response message includes the DTX configuration The method according to claim 24, including.

28. A method for wireless communication performed by a first base station, the method comprising Providing a DTX configuration for a cell in the first base station to a second base station, Receiving, from the second base station, data for a wireless device served by the cell, wherein the data is transmitted by the second base station based on the DTX configuration, and Transmitting the data to the wireless device based on the DTX configuration Including, the method.

29. Providing the DTX configuration for the cell in the first base station to the second base station is Receiving a first message from the second base station, and Transmitting, to the second base station, a response message to the first message, wherein the response message includes the DTX configuration The method according to claim 28, including.

30. The first message is an NG setup request message, or a RAN node configuration update message The method according to claim 29, comprising at least one of them.

31. wherein the response message includes an NG setup response message, or a RAN node configuration confirmation message and the method according to claim 29 comprises at least one of them.

32. A device for wireless communication comprising a memory for storing computer instructions and a processor communicating with the memory, wherein when the processor executes the computer instructions, the processor is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 - 31.

33. A computer program product comprising a non - transitory computer - readable program medium having computer code stored thereon, wherein when the computer code is executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors are caused to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 - 31.

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