Compact TRS Configuration for NR UE Power Savings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In New Radio (NR) wireless communication systems, User Equipment (UE) faces challenges in power consumption during idle/inactive states due to the lack of awareness of Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) availability, leading to extended energy usage and network overhead in TRS configuration, which is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A compact TRS configuration mechanism is introduced, allowing the network to efficiently configure UEs with specific TRS parameters, reducing redundant information and enabling flexibility in exposing TRS to idle UEs, thereby achieving power savings and minimizing network overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional CSI-RS configuration framework is used for TRS, then comprehensive channel measurement capabilities are provided, but configuration complexity and network overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential TRS configuration parameters from the comprehensive CSI-RS configuration framework. Instead of configuring full CSI-RS resource sets with multiple parameters, the invention uses a simplified TRS configuration that includes only necessary elements for channel measurement, thereby reducing configuration complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the TRS configuration from the general CSI-RS configuration. By creating a dedicated TRS configuration structure with specific parameters (TRS periodicity, TRS offset, TRS resource configuration) separate from the full CSI-RS framework, the invention achieves simplified configuration while preserving the essential channel measurement function.
2Reliability
If TRS is configured for connected mode UEs, then accurate channel tracking is achieved, but power consumption during idle/inactive states increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic TRS configuration where the network can selectively activate TRS for idle/inactive UEs based on needs. The TRS configuration includes dynamic parameters (periodicity, offset) that can be adjusted to provide channel measurement capabilities only when necessary, allowing UEs to maintain accurate channel tracking during connected mode while reducing power consumption during idle/inactive states through conditional TRS reception.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive TRS configuration parameters are provided, then flexible TRS exposure to idle UEs is achieved, but network overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing TRS configuration parameters tailored to specific UE states (connected, idle, inactive) rather than a uniform comprehensive configuration for all UEs. The configuration includes state-specific parameters that enable flexible TRS exposure to idle UEs only when needed, reducing overall network overhead by avoiding unnecessary configuration information for UEs that do not require TRS.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods of compact Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) configuration for New Radio (NR) User Equipment (UE) are provided. The Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) configuration framework through which the TRS is traditionally configured in connected mode is quite hefty in terms of number of possibilities and Information Elements (IEs) included in its structures. It entails IEs that can be used for configuration of multiple sets (up to 16) of both Zero Power (ZP) and Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RSs. Each of these sets can itself include configuration of up to 64 resources. In order to be able to provide TRS configuration and availability information to the UEs in Radio Resource Control (RRC) Idle/Inactive states, a compact TRS mechanism is disclosed through which the network can configure the UE with specific TRSs.