Dormant Secondary Cell Control for Low-Latency UE Offloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in optimizing user equipment (UE) power consumption and reducing secondary cell (SCell) activation latency, particularly in LTE carrier aggregation, due to inefficient SCell activation and deactivation procedures that lead to significant power consumption and latency in handling bursty traffic.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dormant SCell state where the UE monitors channel state information and performs minimal PDCCH monitoring, along with distinct CDRX cycles for primary and secondary cells, to conserve power and enable quick data offloading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If SCell activation and deactivation procedures are implemented in LTE carrier aggregation, then data offloading capability is improved, but UE power consumption increases and activation latency occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata offloading capabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dormant state for SCells that is dynamically transitioned to/from the activated state based on traffic conditions. This dynamic state management allows the system to optimize between full functionality (activated state) and power saving (dormant state), resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dormant state serves as a preliminary intermediate state before full activation. By maintaining SCells in a dormant state with partial monitoring capabilities, the system prepares for potential data offloading needs without committing to full activation, thus reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining quick activation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If SCell activation procedures are implemented, then data offloading capability is improved, but SCell activation latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata offloading capabilityVSAvoidSCell activation latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dormant state acts as a preliminary activated state where basic monitoring is already established. When data offloading is needed, the transition from dormant to fully activated state is faster than cold activation from deactivated state, thus reducing activation latency while maintaining the ability to offload data effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If SCells are kept in activated state for quick data offloading, then data offloading capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata offloading capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions SCells between dormant and activated states based on actual traffic demands. This resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible - SCells can be quickly activated when needed for data offloading and transitioned to dormant state when not needed, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic evaluation of traffic conditions to determine whether SCells should remain activated or transition to dormant state. This periodic assessment ensures that power consumption is optimized while maintaining data offloading capability when actually needed, rather than keeping SCells continuously activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3652997B1User equipment power consumption and secondary cell activation latency reductions in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3652997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3652997B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3652997B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present disclosure provides user equipment power consumption and secondary cell (SCell) activation latency reductions in wireless communication systems. For example, a UE may determine that a secondary cell activation condition has been satisfied. The UE may further transition to a secondary cell activated state based on determining that the secondary cell activation condition has been satisfied, the secondary cell activate state corresponding to a dormant SCell state. The UE may operate at least in the dormant SCell state.