5G Terminal DRX Control for Low-Power Measurement Reporting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing periodic measurements and reporting during discontinuous reception (DRX) operations, particularly in 5G networks, leading to unnecessary power consumption and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of configuration and control mechanisms for periodic measurement and reporting in DRX operations, allowing terminals to skip monitoring the downlink control channel based on received information, along with efficient management of antenna adaptation based on maximum MIMO layers and bandwidth parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal monitors the downlink control channel continuously during DRX operations, then the system can ensure reliable reception of control information and scheduling commands, but the terminal consumes excessive power and wastes radio resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable reception of control informationVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) where the terminal alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During DRX ON durations, the terminal monitors the downlink control channel for scheduling commands, while during DRX OFF durations, it skips monitoring to conserve power. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable control information reception during active periods while reducing power consumption during sleep periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal autonomously determines whether to monitor or skip monitoring the downlink control channel based on received configuration information and wake-up indicators. When a wake-up indicator is received, the terminal skips monitoring in subsequent DRX cycles, self-managing its power consumption without continuous network control, thus resolving the reliability-power contradiction through intelligent autonomous decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If the terminal performs periodic measurements and reporting during DRX operations, then the network can maintain accurate channel state information and scheduling decisions, but the terminal increases power consumption and processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information accuracyVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent configures periodic measurements and reporting to occur only during DRX ON durations or specific wake-up occasions, rather than continuously. The terminal performs channel state information measurements and uplink reporting periodically when activated, maintaining network awareness of channel conditions while avoiding continuous measurement overhead that would increase power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network pre-configures measurement and reporting parameters before DRX cycles begin, allowing the terminal to efficiently execute measurements only when needed. Configuration information includes measurement objects, reporting configurations, and triggers that enable the terminal to perform necessary measurements in advance of scheduling decisions, reducing last-minute processing power requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the terminal adapts antenna configurations dynamically based on MIMO layers, then the system can optimize spectral efficiency and data rates, but the terminal increases device complexity and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidterminal device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic antenna adaptation where the terminal adjusts its antenna configuration based on the number of MIMO layers indicated in downlink control information. When higher MIMO layers are scheduled, the terminal activates corresponding antenna ports and RF chains to optimize spectral efficiency. When fewer layers are needed, the terminal deactivates excess antenna resources, maintaining high productivity while managing device complexity through conditional activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal applies different antenna configurations locally based on specific transmission requirements. Rather than maintaining a fixed high-complexity configuration, the terminal adapts antenna ports, beamforming weights, and RF chain activations to match the actual MIMO layer requirement for each transmission, optimizing spectral efficiency only where needed while reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4207866B1Method and apparatus of a terminal and a base station in a wireless communication system supporting a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4207866B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4207866B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4207866B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus of a terminal and a base station in a wireless communication system supporting a DRX operation, the method of the terminal comprises receiving, from a base station, configuration information related to at least one of periodic measurement or periodic reporting, receiving, from the base station, control information indicating whether the terminal is to monitor a downlink control channel, and performing at least one of the periodic measurement or the periodic reporting based on the configuration information in case that the control information indicates that the terminal is to skip monitoring the downlink control channel.