Beam Indication Method for Reducing UE Power Consumption in LTE
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE mechanisms, the use of multiple antennas to enlarge high-frequency band coverage areas results in high power consumption for user equipment (UE) due to the need to constantly listen for physical downlink control channels across limited beams, leading to inefficiencies and increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
A beam indication method where a network device sends scheduling time information to a terminal, allowing it to listen for control signals only during designated times, reducing unnecessary listening periods and optimizing power usage by matching the UE's listening schedule with the network's scheduling arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE constantly listens for PDCCH to detect control signals, then reliability of control channel reception is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listening behavior where UE only activates to listen for PDCCH during specific time periods (first time period) when control signals are actually transmitted, and remains in sleep mode during other periods (second time period). This periodic activation pattern reduces power consumption while ensuring UE does not miss any control signals, as the listening schedule is synchronized with the network's control signal transmission schedule.
2Device complexity
If network uses limited beams for transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends coverage by adding a time dimension to the spatial beam structure. Instead of increasing the number of simultaneous beams in space, the network transmits control signals on the same limited beams across different time periods. UE is scheduled to listen during specific time periods corresponding to its beam's active transmission, effectively expanding coverage through time-division multiplexing without requiring additional spatial beams or increased device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a beam indication method, a network device, and a terminal, to resolve at least a problem that power consumption of UE is relatively great when a technology of using a beam to enlarge a coverage area of a high frequency band is used with an existing LTE mechanism. The method includes: obtaining, by a network device, scheduling time information of at least one beam, where the scheduling time information of the at least one beam includes scheduling time information of a first beam currently accessed by a terminal, and is used to instruct the terminal to receive or send a signal at a scheduling time indicated by the scheduling time information of the at least one beam; and sending, by the network device, first indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate the scheduling time information of the at least one beam. The present invention is applicable to the field of wireless communications technologies.