Dedicated CORESET Alignment for Reduced-Capability UE Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reduced capability user equipment (UEs) in 5G New Radio (NR) networks face excessive power consumption and inefficient RF retuning due to bandwidth limitations, as the total bandwidth of synchronization signal blocks (SSB) and control resource sets (CORESET) exceeds their maximum capabilities, leading to delayed cell search times and unnecessary decoding of system information.

Innovation Solution

Configuring a dedicated common CORESET for reduced capability UEs within the bandwidth of existing CORESET 0, aligned with SSB, to minimize RF retuning and unnecessary decoding, thereby optimizing power consumption while maintaining network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the total bandwidth of SSB and CORESET is increased to support more data services, then network coverage and data service capability are improved, but reduced capability UE power consumption increases and RF retuning frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata service capabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the CORESET into two distinct types: a first CORESET for normal capability UEs and a second CORESET for reduced capability UEs. This segmentation allows each UE type to access only the necessary control resources, preventing reduced capability UEs from consuming power decoding unnecessary system information while maintaining network versatility for supporting multiple data services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the total bandwidth of SSB and CORESET is increased to support more data services, then network coverage and data service capability are improved, but RF retuning frequency increases and cell search time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata service capabilityVSAvoidcell search time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing CORESET into first and second CORESETS with different bandwidth characteristics, reduced capability UEs can perform cell search and system information decoding within their limited bandwidth capability without requiring frequent RF retuning across the entire expanded bandwidth, thereby reducing cell search time and improving initial access efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by configuring the second CORESET with a second bandwidth that is compatible with reduced capability UE capabilities, while the first CORESET uses a first bandwidth for normal capability UEs. This allows each UE type to operate optimally within their respective bandwidth constraints, improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If reduced capability UE decodes system information in the full bandwidth CORESET, then complete system information is obtained, but unnecessary decoding occurs increasing power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control resource set into two separate CORESETS, allowing reduced capability UEs to decode system information exclusively in the second CORESET that is configured for their bandwidth capability. This prevents unnecessary decoding of system information in the first CORESET, reducing power consumption while ensuring complete system information acquisition for reduced capability UEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the system information decoding function for reduced capability UEs into a separate second CORESET, isolating it from the first CORESET used by normal capability UEs. This extraction ensures that reduced capability UEs only process necessary information within their bandwidth limits, eliminating wasteful decoding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4108023B1Systems and methods for reducing UE power consumption

Publication Date: 2025.12.03 ZTE CORP

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AI summary

Systems, methods and devices for reducing power consumption for reduced capability UEs can include using a dedicated common control resource set (CORESET) to reduce RF retuning in idle mode. The systems, methods and devices may include using the dedicated common CORESET and a dedicated initial downlink bandwidth part (DL BWP) to reduce RF retuning for reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices may include using dedicated initial DL BWP to reduce RF retuning for reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices include using simplified synchronization signal block (SSB) in DL BWP to reduce RF tuning by reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices may include employing an indication in downlink control information (DCI) of whether the scheduled physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is for reduced capability UEs to avoid unnecessary PDSCH decoding.