Discontinuous Reception Mode Configuration Adaptation for Wireless Energy Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, such as LTE, face high energy consumption due to constantly broadcasted reference signals and system information, even in scenarios with little traffic, leading to inefficient energy use and potential interference.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where communication devices autonomously adapt their discontinuous reception mode configuration based on current network signaling, aggregating and transmitting system information from nodes with good coverage, and using flexible periodicity for synchronization signals, allowing devices to conserve battery life without missing essential information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reference signals and system information are constantly broadcasted to ensure network accessibility, then accessibility performance is improved, but network energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception mode where reference signals and system information are broadcasted periodically rather than continuously. The network node transmits these signals at specific intervals, allowing user equipment to enter sleep modes between transmissions while still maintaining the ability to acquire necessary information when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameters of reference signals and system information by adjusting their periodicity and timing. By modifying these parameters dynamically based on network conditions and traffic patterns, the system optimizes the balance between accessibility performance and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If reference signals are constantly transmitted to maintain synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic transmission of reference signals at optimized intervals rather than continuous transmission. This allows user equipment to maintain synchronization by acquiring signals at regular periods while the network node consumes less energy during intervals when signals are not transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If system information is continuously broadcasted to ensure information availability, then information availability is improved, but energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic broadcasting of system information blocks (SIBs) rather than continuous transmission. Different SIBs are transmitted at different periodicities based on their importance and update requirements, ensuring that critical information remains available while reducing overall energy consumption and network interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3381229B1Method and communication device for establishing a discontinuous reception mode configuration
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3381229B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3381229B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3381229B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A method (20) is provided, which may be performed in a communication device (6) for establishing a discontinuous reception mode configuration. The method (20) comprises determining (21) at least one characteristics of signaling from a network node (5a, 5b), and adapting (22), based on the at least one characteristics, at least one parameter of a currently used discontinuous reception mode configuration. A related communication device (6), computer program and computer program products are also provided.