Common DRX Configuration for Multi-UE Network Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in aligning discontinuous reception (DRX) configurations across multiple user equipments (UEs), particularly in scenarios with large quantities of UEs and high-traffic conditions, leading to reduced power saving capabilities at the network due to increased latency and difficulty in entering low-power states.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques for signaling and configuration between network entities and UEs to determine and align common DRX (C-DRX) configurations, enabling efficient communication during active durations and low-power states during inactive durations, thereby improving DRX alignment and power savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If DRX configurations of multiple UEs are aligned to enable network low-power modes, then power saving capabilities are improved, but alignment difficulty increases with large quantities of UEs and high-traffic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DRX configuration management into two distinct parts: individual UE DRX configurations and a common DRX configuration that applies to multiple UEs. This segmentation allows the network to manage power saving at the group level while maintaining individual UE requirements, reducing the complexity of aligning configurations across all UEs simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The common DRX configuration serves multiple UEs simultaneously, providing universal applicability across the UE set. This multi-functionality approach allows the network to enter low-power states more effectively by having multiple UEs operate under a unified DRX schedule, thereby improving power saving capabilities without requiring individual alignment for each UE.
2Loss of energy
If network enters low-power modes during inactive durations, then energy consumption is reduced, but latency increases due to difficulty in DRX alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity determines and signals the common DRX configuration in advance to multiple UEs before the inactive duration begins. This preliminary action ensures that all UEs are prepared to enter low-power states simultaneously, reducing alignment latency and enabling the network to transition to low-power modes without significant time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the DRX configurations of multiple UEs into a single common DRX configuration that applies to all UEs in the set. This consolidation eliminates the need for individual UE alignment and allows the network to coordinate low-power state transitions efficiently, reducing latency while maintaining energy saving benefits.
3Loss of energy
If common DRX configuration is applied to multiple UEs, then power saving is improved, but control signaling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common DRX configuration serves as a universal control mechanism that applies to multiple UEs simultaneously. By using a single configuration structure that can be signaled to multiple UEs, the network reduces the total quantity of control signaling required compared to individually configuring each UE, while still achieving power saving across the entire UE set.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A first network entity (e.g., a distributed unit (DU)) may receive, from a second network entity (e.g., a centralized unit (CU)), a control message indicating a common discontinuous reception (C-DRX) configuration associated with a set of user equipments (UEs) communicatively coupled to the first network entity, where the C-DRX configuration indicates a time period including an active duration and an inactive duration. The first network entity may then communicate with two or more of the set of UEs in accordance with the indicated C-DRX configuration during the active duration of the time period of the C-DRX configuration.