Dormant Mode Beam Measurement Cutoff for Lower UE Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of beamformed cell information signals in dormant mode increases power consumption for wireless devices due to the need to search and measure multiple beams, especially when signals are time multiplexed.
Innovation Solution
Wireless devices in dormant mode intermittently activate receiver circuitry to monitor and measure a predetermined set of resources, evaluating each resource against a predetermined criterion, and discontinue measurements if the criterion is met, deactivating the receiver circuitry accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If beamformed cell information signals are used to increase effective antenna gain and enable spatial positioning, then signal coverage and positioning accuracy are improved, but the number of beams to search increases multiplication factor, leading to increased power consumption for UEs in dormant mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the UE measure only a subset of beams rather than all beams. The UE determines a first subset of beams from a set of candidate beams and measures only these selected beams while in dormant mode, rather than exhaustively measuring all possible beams. This reduces the measurement burden and power consumption while still achieving adequate coverage and positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the beam measurement process into two distinct phases: (1) during dormant mode, the UE measures only a first subset of beams and stores measurement results; (2) during active mode, the UE measures a second subset of beams using previously stored results to reduce current measurement requirements. This segmentation allows the system to distribute measurement tasks across different operational states, reducing instantaneous power consumption in dormant mode.
2Power
If beamformed cell information signals are time multiplexed to use high output power per beam, then effective signal strength is improved, but the receiver must remain on over long durations to search for beams, increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE perform beam measurements and store measurement results during dormant mode before transitioning to active mode. The UE determines a first subset of beams and measures them while dormant, storing these results for later use. This preliminary measurement action reduces the need for extensive measurements when the UE becomes active, thereby reducing the duration the receiver must remain on during high-power operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE reports measurement results to the network, and the network provides feedback about which beams are most relevant. The UE uses this feedback information to refine its beam selection and measurement strategy, focusing measurements on the most promising beams rather than searching all beams exhaustively, thus reducing receiver activation duration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods performed by a wireless device operating in a dormant mode comprise performing a measurement on each of a plurality of resources from a predetermined set of resources or demodulating and decoding information from each of a plurality of resources from a predetermined set of resources, such as a set of beams. The methods further include evaluating the measurement or the demodulated and decoded information for each of the plurality of resources against a predetermined criterion, and then discontinuing the performing and evaluating of measurements, or discontinuing the demodulating and decoding and evaluation of information, in response to determining that the predetermined criterion is met, such that one or more resources in the predetermined set of resources are neither measured nor demodulated and decoded. The methods further comprise deactivating receiver circuitry, further in response to determining that the predetermined criterion is met.