Carrier-Specific Indication Signal Duration Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In NB-IoT and NR systems, terminal devices face high power consumption due to unnecessary blind detection in target search spaces when no indication signal is introduced, and existing indication signals have uniform duration configurations for different carriers, leading to inefficient coverage and overhead management.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring indication signals, also known as wakeup signals (WUS), with adjustable durations for each carrier to flexibly adjust coverage areas and control overheads, allowing network devices to send first and second configuration information to terminal devices to determine whether to receive signals or process channels, thereby reducing power consumption and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uniform duration configuration is used for indication signals across different carriers, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but coverage efficiency and overhead control are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration complexityVSAvoidcoverage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the indication signal configuration by carrier, allowing each carrier to have its own duration parameter independently configured. This enables the network to optimize coverage for each carrier based on its specific conditions (frequency band, propagation characteristics, terminal distribution) without being constrained by a uniform configuration across all carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic configurability of indication signal duration per carrier through network configuration messages. The network can adjust the duration parameter dynamically based on changing network conditions, terminal requirements, and carrier characteristics, transforming a static uniform configuration into a dynamic adaptive configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If indication signal duration is extended to ensure coverage, then coverage area is improved, but signal overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsignal overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different duration configurations for different carriers based on their specific coverage requirements. Carriers with difficult coverage conditions (e.g., high frequency bands, rural areas) can have longer indication signal durations, while carriers with good coverage conditions (e.g., low frequency bands, urban areas) can use shorter durations, optimizing the balance between coverage and overhead locally for each carrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the duration parameter of the indication signal to adapt to different coverage scenarios. By adjusting this key parameter, the system can extend coverage when needed while controlling overhead when not necessary, achieving optimal performance across diverse deployment scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If blind detection is performed in target search space without indication signal, then detection accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by sending the indication signal before the actual data transmission. The terminal device performs blind detection only when the indication signal is received, allowing it to skip unnecessary blind detection in subsequent search spaces when no data is scheduled, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of wake-up indication from the main data transmission process. The indication signal carries only the critical information needed to trigger or skip blind detection, separating this control function from the full DCI message, thereby reducing terminal power consumption while preserving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3706498B1Indication signal configuration method and device
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3706498B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3706498B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP3706498B1 patent drawingFigure 3b

AI summary

An indication signal configuration method and device are provided, and relate to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: sending, by a network device, first configuration information and second configuration information; sending a first indication signal on a first carrier; and sending a second indication signal on a second carrier, where the first configuration information is used to indicate duration of the first indication signal corresponding to the first carrier, the second configuration information is used to indicate duration of the second indication signal corresponding to the second carrier, the first terminal device is a terminal device that needs to receive the first indication signal, and the second terminal device is a terminal device that needs to receive the second indication signal.