BWP Inactivity Timer Switching via Scrambling ID
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communications, terminal devices fail to correctly switch to default downlink bandwidth parts (BWP) due to errors or omissions during timer start or restart, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A timer processing method where terminal devices receive messages from network devices indicating downlink assignments or bandwidth part switching, and start or restart timers based on scrambling identifiers or carrier indices to switch between active and default BWPs, ensuring correct switching and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the terminal device works on a non-default downlink BWP to receive downlink assignments or switch to non-default BWPs, then data communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of PDCCH on default downlink BWP using a BWP inactivity timer. The terminal device switches to non-default BWPs for data communication only when needed, then periodically returns to the default BWP to monitor for new assignments. This periodic action between wideband and narrowband operation reduces power consumption while maintaining data communication capability when required.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the BWP inactivity timer is started or restarted based on PDCCH reception, then the terminal device should switch to default BWP to reduce power consumption, but errors or omissions in timer management cause switching failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces explicit feedback mechanisms to track BWP timer status. The network device indicates BWP timer start/restart conditions through DCI formats, and the terminal device feeds back acknowledgments (ACK/NACK) to confirm timer status changes. This feedback loop ensures both devices have consistent understanding of timer state, preventing switching errors and ensuring reliable transitions to default BWP for power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the BWP inactivity timer as an intermediary mechanism between data communication needs and power saving goals. The timer mediates the transition between active non-default BWPs and the power-efficient default BWP. By introducing this intermediate timing mechanism with explicit start/restart conditions indicated through DCI, the system achieves reliable power management without direct control complexity.
3Reliability
If the terminal device continuously monitors PDCCH on wide bandwidth, then downlink assignment reception is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments PDCCH monitoring into two distinct modes: wideband monitoring on non-default BWPs when data communication is active, and narrowband monitoring on the default downlink BWP during inactivity periods. The BWP inactivity timer controls segmentation timing, switching from wideband to narrowband monitoring to reduce power consumption while maintaining reliable downlink assignment reception when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A timer processing method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, a first message sent by a network device, and starting or restarting a timer based on a scrambling identifier of the first message, wherein the timer is a timer used by the terminal device to switch from an active downlink BWP to a default downlink BWP, or is a timer used by the terminal device to activate a default downlink BWP and deactivate an active downlink BWP; or if an active BWP pair of the terminal device is not a default BWP pair, starting or restarting, by the terminal device, a timer based on a scrambling identifier of the first message, wherein the timer is a timer used by the terminal device to switch from the active BWP pair to the default BWP pair, or is a timer used by the terminal device to activate the default BWP pair.