DRX Cycle Configuration for Energy-Saving Terminal Latency Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in implementing longer discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles for energy-saving terminal devices without affecting the latency of non-energy-saving devices, leading to increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that allows a network device to send first information indicating a first DRX cycle corresponding to an energy-saving function, enabling a terminal device to determine a target DRX cycle, thereby extending the cycle for energy-saving devices without impacting latency in non-energy-saving devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If longer DRX cycles are introduced for energy-saving terminal devices, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the DRX cycle configuration by device type, providing different DRX cycle lengths for energy-saving terminal devices versus non-energy-saving terminal devices. The network device identifies whether a terminal supports energy-saving functions and configures appropriate DRX parameters accordingly, allowing energy-saving devices to use longer cycles while non-energy-saving devices use shorter cycles, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and latency for different device categories

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by customizing DRX cycle parameters specifically for terminal devices that support energy-saving functions, rather than applying a uniform configuration to all devices. The network device determines whether a terminal has energy-saving capability and configures longer DRX cycles only for those devices, while maintaining shorter cycles for other devices, thereby achieving localized optimization that reduces power consumption where applicable without compromising latency elsewhere

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If longer DRX cycles are configured for energy-saving devices, then power consumption decreases, but it affects the latency performance of non-energy-saving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network device segments the terminal device population based on energy-saving function support and applies different DRX cycle configurations to each segment. Energy-saving devices receive longer DRX cycles for reduced power consumption, while non-energy-saving devices receive shorter DRX cycles to maintain low latency performance, thus resolving the contradiction through differentiated configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the DRX cycle parameter values based on terminal device characteristics. The network device configures different DRX cycle lengths (first DRX cycle for energy-saving devices, second DRX cycle for non-energy-saving devices) by modifying the cycle parameter according to the terminal's energy-saving capability, thereby achieving optimal power consumption and latency performance for each device type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4654676A1Communication method and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4654676A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4654676A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4654676A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A communication method and communication apparatus are provided. The method includes: a terminal device receives first information, and the first information indicates a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle corresponding to an energy-saving function; the terminal device determines a target DRX cycle of the terminal device according to the first information. The method can reduce the power consumption of energy-saving terminal devices.