Adaptive SCell Activation for Faster Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR systems face challenges in timely load balancing due to long secondary cell (SCell) activation times, which increase UE power consumption and reduce battery life, especially in scenarios where SCell activation times can be as long as 1.28-1.44 seconds.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves adapting SCell activation procedures based on the user equipment's (UE) receiver activity rate, employing different activation procedures for known and unknown SCell gain states, including blind, normal, and fast activation methods to reduce activation time and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional SCell activation procedures are used, then activation reliability is ensured through complete gain search and measurement, but activation time becomes too long (1.28-1.44 seconds) and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the activation procedure adaptive rather than static. The UE determines whether to perform a complete gain search or use a fast activation procedure based on dynamic conditions: whether the SCell is currently active, recent measurement availability, and receiver activity rate. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to switch between reliable complete activation and faster partial activation based on real-time network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement completeness based on activation needs. When SCell is already active or recently measured, the UE skips the complete gain search and uses stored measurement results, effectively changing the measurement parameter from 'complete' to 'partial'. This parameter change reduces activation time while maintaining sufficient reliability for the specific context.
2Measurement precision
If traditional SCell activation procedures are used, then measurement accuracy is ensured through complete gain search, but UE power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary measurements rather than always conducting a complete gain search. When the SCell is already active or measurements are recently available, the UE performs partial activation without the full gain search sequence, using stored measurement results instead. This partial action approach maintains sufficient measurement accuracy for the context while significantly reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by maintaining stored measurement results from previous measurements. When the SCell becomes inactive, the UE retains the last known good measurement data in memory. Upon reactivation, instead of performing a complete new gain search, the UE retrieves and reuses these preliminary measurement results, reducing both time and power requirements while maintaining adequate measurement accuracy.
3Productivity
If SCell activation is performed frequently for load balancing, then network resource utilization improves, but UE power consumption and battery drain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles to determine activation frequency. Instead of continuously monitoring or activating SCells, the UE follows periodic DRX cycles where measurements and activations occur at specific intervals. This periodic approach allows frequent enough SCell activation to maintain good network resource utilization while spacing out operations to reduce cumulative power consumption compared to continuous activation.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods and/or procedures for a user equipment (UE) to activate a secondary cell (SCell) for operating with the UE's primary serving cell (PSC). Embodiments include determining a receiver activity rate for the UE. Embodiments also include receiving, from the PSC, an activation request identifying the SCell. Embodiments also include activating the SCell based on the receiver activity rate. Other embodiments include complementary methods and/or procedures performed by a network node arranged to communicate with one or more UEs via a PSC and at least one selectively activated SCell. Other embodiments include UEs and network nodes configured to perform operations corresponding to various ones of the methods and/or procedures, as well as computer-readable media embodying such operations.