Downlink Control Signaling for 5G UE Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication systems face issues with high power consumption due to unnecessary PDCCH monitoring and unsuitable large BWP, which are not adequately addressed by current C-DRX techniques, and there is a lack of power saving indications in existing DCI formats.
Innovation Solution
Implement new or modified downlink control signaling with additional fields or repurposed DCI formats to trigger power saving operations, including wake-up or go-to-sleep commands, BWP switching, and other power-saving actions, while maintaining compatibility with existing 5G specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If C-DRX technique is used to enable discontinuous reception, then power consumption is reduced, but power consumption remains high due to unnecessary PDCCH monitoring and unsuitable large BWP
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a wake-up indication signal that is transmitted before the actual data transmission. This signal预先 indicates whether the UE should wake up to monitor PDCCH or remain in sleep mode, allowing the UE to make power-saving decisions in advance and avoid unnecessary PDCCH monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power saving mechanism into multiple components: wake-up indication signals, go-to-sleep indications, and BWP switching indications. Each component addresses specific aspects of power consumption, allowing granular control over UE power saving behavior rather than a single blanket approach
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing DCI formats are used without power saving indications, then communication compatibility is maintained, but power saving capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing DCI formats multi-functional by adding power saving indication fields to formats that already handle scheduling and resource allocation. The same DCI structure serves both traditional scheduling purposes and new power saving functions, avoiding the need for entirely new signal formats
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests power saving indication fields within existing DCI format structures. Rather than creating separate standalone signals, the power saving indications are embedded as additional fields within the familiar DCI framework, allowing UEs to process both traditional and power saving information in a unified manner
3Reliability
If PDCCH monitoring is performed continuously to ensure reliable communication, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing discontinuous monitoring patterns where UEs wake up at specific intervals to check for wake-up indications and data, rather than continuously monitoring PDCCH. This periodic wake-up approach maintains communication reliability while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The wake-up indication signal serves as preliminary action by notifying UEs in advance whether they need to wake up for PDCCH monitoring. This allows UEs to remain in low-power states and only activate monitoring circuits when actually needed, balancing reliability requirements with power consumption
4Productivity
If large BWP is allocated to ensure sufficient bandwidth, then data transmission capacity is improved, but power consumption increases due to processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling dynamic BWP switching based on actual traffic conditions and power saving requirements. UEs can switch between larger BWPs for high-data-rate scenarios and smaller BWPs for low-traffic or power-saving scenarios, allowing the system to adapt bandwidth allocation to actual needs rather than maintaining a fixed large BWP
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the BWP parameter dynamically through DCI indications that trigger BWP switching. By modifying the active BWP configuration parameter based on traffic conditions and power saving state, the system optimizes the balance between data transmission capacity and processing power consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for providing control signaling are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system and method are configured to generate a control signal and transmit the control signal from a wireless network device to N wireless user devices. The control signal includes one of: a first type of control signal and a second type of control signal. The N is an integer that is at least 1.