Beam Quality Reference Signal for DRX Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR communication systems operating at high frequencies, beam blockages can occur during discontinuous reception (DRX) operation, leading to failed connections and increased power consumption due to the inability of user equipment (UE) to detect signal quality upon waking up from a sleep mode.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a beam quality reference signal (BQRS) with a spatial quasi-collocated relationship to the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), which is sent by the access node to the UE during specific periods to ensure beam integrity and facilitate rapid detection of signal quality upon entering a DRX-ON period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UE enters DRX-off period to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the UE cannot detect beam quality changes and may wake up to a blocked beam
Solution Approach 1:
The access node transmits the BQRS signal before the DRX-on period begins, allowing the UE to pre-detect beam quality while still in low-power mode. This preliminary action enables the UE to wake up only when necessary, avoiding the contradiction between power saving and beam monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The BQRS signal serves as an intermediary between the access node and the UE during the DRX-off period. It carries beam quality information that the UE can detect without being in full active reception mode, thus maintaining beam integrity awareness while preserving power savings
2Reliability
If the UE wakes up frequently to check beam quality, then beam integrity is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam quality detection function is extracted from the main DRX cycle and performed separately through the BQRS signal. The UE only needs to wake up briefly to detect the BQRS signal, rather than performing full PDCCH monitoring, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining beam integrity
Solution Approach 2:
Beam quality assessment is performed in advance through the BQRS signal transmission before the UE needs to fully wake up for PDCCH reception. This allows the UE to skip wake-up cycles when beam quality is good, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability
3Measurement precision
If the UE waits until DRX-on period to detect signal quality, then full signal detection capability is available, but beam blockage may go undetected until too late
Solution Approach 1:
The BQRS signal provides preliminary beam quality measurement before the DRX-on period begins. This early detection allows the UE to identify blocked beams in advance and trigger beam recovery procedures before attempting PDCCH reception, preventing connection failures
Solution Approach 2:
The signal detection process is segmented into two stages: initial beam quality detection via BQRS signal during/before DRX-off, and full PDCCH detection during DRX-on. This segmentation allows low-power preliminary checking without sacrificing full detection capability when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes sending, by an access node, to a user equipment (UE) configuration information for a beam quality reference signal (BQRS) that is associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX)-ON period used for sending a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to the UE, wherein the BQRS has a spatial quasi-collocated (QCL) relationship with either the PDCCH or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH. The method further includes sending, by the access node, the BQRS to the UE.