Application Driven Fast Dormancy in Wireless User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption in user equipment (UE) due to sub-optimal dormancy triggering mechanisms, which can lead to increased battery drain and air signaling overhead, especially when specific applications anticipate no further data traffic.
Innovation Solution
An application-driven fast dormancy control scheme is implemented, where an active process in the network, such as an email server, monitors network traffic and sends commands to the UE to enter a dormant state only when it is solely responsible for network traffic, reducing unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UE enters dormant state quickly to save power, then battery consumption is reduced, but air signaling overhead increases due to premature dormancy triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The application layer proactively determines dormancy conditions based on anticipated future data traffic patterns before the network layer can react. By evaluating application-specific knowledge (e.g., email synchronization intervals, video buffering status), the system triggers dormancy in advance of what traditional network-layer inactivity timers would allow, thereby saving power while avoiding premature transitions through intelligent prediction
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the application layer continuously monitors data traffic patterns and provides this information to the network layer. The RNC receives application-layer dormancy indications and adjusts its behavior accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes dormancy timing based on actual application needs rather than generic inactivity thresholds
2Use of energy by moving object
If application-driven fast dormancy is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases due to inter-layer coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The dormancy control functionality is segmented into distinct layers: application layer processes (e.g., email client, video player) independently evaluate their own data traffic patterns and generate dormancy indications, while the network layer (RNC) independently processes these indications and executes appropriate radio resource control actions. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize without creating complex interdependencies
Solution Approach 2:
The application layer structure is designed to be universal across different application types. Rather than implementing application-specific dormancy logic for each application, the system uses a standardized interface where any application can indicate its dormancy needs through a common mechanism. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity by handling diverse applications through a unified framework
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods in which the user equipment can be transitioned into a dormant state controlled by an application driven scheme. According to the application driven scheme, a request is received from an active process at an application server to trigger a wireless device to enter a dormant state, and network traffic information corresponding to a time interval is received from a wireless device. If the network traffic information indicates that the active process is solely responsible for network traffic at a transport layer of the wireless device during the time interval, one or more commands are transmitted to the wireless device such that the wireless device enters the dormant state. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.