Channel Timing Offset for Carrier Aggregation Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, carrier aggregation leads to increased buffering requirements and power consumption in user agents due to the need to receive Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) data on multiple carriers, which reduces battery life and processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing channel timing offsets and designated carrier switching, where PDSCH transmission on non-designated carriers is offset relative to the corresponding PDCCH grant, allowing the user agent to activate and process data on non-designated carriers only when necessary, thereby reducing buffering and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier aggregation is implemented to receive PDSCH data on multiple carriers, then data transmission capacity is improved, but buffering requirements and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic carrier switching where the user agent activates or deactivates reception on non-designated carriers based on scheduling decisions. The receiver dynamically transitions between receiving on the designated carrier only and receiving on both designated and non-designated carriers, allowing adaptive resource utilization that balances transmission capacity with power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic scheduling where the user agent receives control information at regular intervals to determine whether to activate reception on non-designated carriers. This periodic activation pattern allows the device to remain in a low-power state during periods when non-designated carrier reception is not required, while still maintaining capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If carrier aggregation is implemented to receive PDSCH data on multiple carriers, then data transmission capacity is improved, but buffering requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidbuffering requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic carrier switching where the user agent activates or deactivates reception on non-designated carriers based on scheduling decisions. By only activating non-designated carrier reception when data is actually scheduled for transmission, the system minimizes the time that buffering resources need to be maintained, thereby reducing overall buffering requirements while preserving high-capacity transmission capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the user agent continuously monitors all carriers, then data reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring where the user agent monitors the designated carrier continuously but only activates monitoring on non-designated carriers when control information indicates data is scheduled for those carriers. This periodic activation ensures reliable data reception when needed while minimizing power consumption during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The user agent autonomously manages its own power consumption by monitoring control information on the designated carrier and self-activating reception on non-designated carriers only when necessary. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous monitoring while maintaining reliable data reception through intelligent, condition-based activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2467949B1System and method for channel timing offset
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2467949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2467949B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4b
  • EP2467949B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for receiving data using a user agent (UA) configured to communicate with a wireless communications network using a first and second communication carrier is presented. The method includes receiving control information during a first time interval. The control information allocates a resource on at least one of the first communication carrier and the second communication carrier. When the control information allocates a resource on the first communication carrier, the method includes receiving data using the first communication carrier during a second time interval. When the control information allocates a resource on the second communication carrier, the method includes receiving data using the second communication carrier during a third time interval, the third time interval being offset from the first time interval.