Aligning Cell DTX and UE DRX for 5G Power Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G network consumes more energy than 4G networks despite its enhanced energy efficiency, and there is a need to balance quality of service (QoS) with power savings, as existing solutions may not achieve global optimum power savings without degrading base station performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) and user equipment (UE) discontinuous reception (DRX) alignment by configuring periodicity, start slot, and on duration for network nodes, allowing UEs to skip monitoring activities during non-active periods, thereby optimizing power saving strategies across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wake-up signal (WUS) is used to save user equipment power, then user equipment power consumption is reduced, but base station power savings are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cell DTX and UE DRX operations by aligning their active and non-active periods. The network node configures the UE with DRX parameters that match the cell DTX cycle, causing both the base station and UE to enter sleep mode simultaneously during non-active periods. This merging of operations eliminates the need for wake-up signals during base station sleep periods, achieving power savings at both the UE and base station without the trade-off that previously existed.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) and user equipment discontinuous reception (DRX) are aligned, then overall network power saving is achieved, but monitoring activity configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration framework where the cell DTX parameters serve dual purposes: they control the base station's transmission schedule and simultaneously define the UE's reception monitoring schedule. By making the DRX configuration derive from or align with the cell DTX configuration, the system uses a single set of parameters (periodicity, start slot, on duration) to control both ends of the communication link, reducing the need for separate, complex configurations while achieving power savings.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples pertaining to cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) and user equipment (UE) discontinuous reception (DRX) are described. A UE receives a configuration of a cell DTX from a network node with a cell DTX functionality. The configuration carries information regarding at least one of a periodicity, a start slot or a start offset and an on duration. Then, the UE skips a monitoring activity during one or more non-active periods of the cell DTX of the network node.