5G UE RF Resource Management During DRX Inactive States
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR communications, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in performing CSI-RS measurements during Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles due to lack of static configurations, undetectable SFI signaling, and misalignment of DCI 2.0 periodicity, leading to incomplete data reception and radio resource management issues, especially in Multi-SIM-Multi-Standby mode where RF resources are intermittently unavailable.
Innovation Solution
The UE employs blind downlink control information decoding, static, or dynamic DCI configurations to detect and synchronize with the serving base station, enabling data reception and radio resource management measurements even during RF inactive states by aligning the RF cycle with signaling information reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UE uses Discontinuous Reception (DRX) to reduce power consumption during NR network measurements, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to insufficient measurement opportunities during inactive time
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary configuration of CSI-RS resources and slot formats during active time before the UE enters inactive time. This allows the UE to have pre-configured measurement opportunities available during inactive periods without needing to wake up and detect signaling, thus maintaining measurement reliability while preserving power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts slot formats and CSI-RS resource configurations based on UE DRX states. During inactive time, the base station can switch slot formats to ensure downlink availability for CSI-RS transmissions, and adjust measurement configurations to match the UE's wake-up patterns, enabling reliable measurements without continuous reception.
2Device complexity
If static configurations are not available from the network during inactive time, then device complexity is reduced, but the UE cannot perform CSI-RS measurements leading to loss of information
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides all necessary static configurations for CSI-RS resources, slot formats, and measurement parameters during active time before the UE enters inactive state. The UE stores these configurations and applies them during inactive time without needing to receive additional signaling, thus avoiding information loss while keeping the inactive state simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE maintains copies of essential configuration information (CSI-RS resource configurations, slot format indicators, measurement parameters) in its memory during inactive time. These copied configurations enable the UE to perform measurements autonomously without real-time network interaction, preventing information loss while avoiding the complexity of continuous configuration updates.
3Measurement precision
If the UE performs measurements during active time of DRX cycle, then measurement accuracy is improved, but data reception is interrupted due to RF resource unavailability in Multi-SIM-Multi-Standby mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the DRX cycle into distinct measurement windows and data reception windows. During inactive time, the UE dedicates specific time resources to CSI-RS measurements when RF resources are unavailable for data, while during active time it prioritizes data reception. This temporal segmentation allows both measurements and data reception to occur without interfering with each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station dynamically configures measurement timing and slot formats based on data traffic conditions. When data reception is critical, the base station schedules measurements during periods when data activity is low, and adjusts slot formats to ensure measurements can be performed without blocking data transmissions, thus maintaining both accuracy and productivity.
4Device complexity
If DCI 2.0 periodicity is misaligned with DRX cycle, then device complexity is reduced, but slot format information becomes undetectable leading to loss of information
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides slot format indications and DCI configurations during active time with timing relationships pre-configured. The UE uses these preliminary indications to determine slot formats during inactive time without needing to detect DCI 2.0 signaling, thus avoiding information loss while keeping the mechanism simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary by providing slot format information through alternative means (e.g., RRC configuration, previous DCI indications) that the UE can use during inactive time without directly detecting DCI 2.0. This intermediary information bridge allows the UE to know slot formats during inactive periods without the complexity of continuous DCI monitoring and synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating user equipment in 5G NR communications system comprises detecting a condition related to the UE while in one of a RF inactive state and a cell handover, the condition indicating one of (a) the UE is not in reception of signaling information from a serving base station during the RF inactive state and (b) the UE is out of synchronization with the serving base station; determining an event related to one of transmission of data by the UE, reception of data by the UE, and RRM measurement by the UE in conjunction with the detected condition; and applying one or more of (a) a blind DCI decoding, (b) a static DCI configuration and (c) a dynamic DCI configuration based on the determination to enable the UE to at least one of (a) receive the signaling information, (b) receive the data, and (c) perform RRM measurement.