DRX Receiver Micro Sleep via Scheduled Data Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional DRX techniques using timers result in unnecessary battery power consumption and shorter battery life due to devices remaining in active mode for extended periods, even when no data is scheduled, as they need to be connected for long listening windows to accommodate scheduler timing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize information from a radio network node to determine if data is scheduled during a DRX cycle, allowing the receiver to be deactivated throughout the cycle if no data is scheduled, and activated only when data is present, eliminating the need for major timers and reducing active time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices remain in active mode for extended listening windows to accommodate scheduler timing requirements, then data scheduling flexibility is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The listening window is segmented into multiple sub-windows corresponding to different scheduling opportunities. Instead of remaining active for the entire extended listening window, the device selectively activates its receiver only during specific sub-windows where data is actually scheduled, thereby maintaining scheduling flexibility while reducing overall active time and power consumption.
2Productivity
If timer values are set to reasonably large values to provide enough time space for scheduling, then scheduler effectiveness is improved, but active mode duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary scheduling decisions and notifies the device in advance about upcoming data transmissions. This allows the device to set shorter timer values and enter sleep mode earlier, knowing when to wake up for specific scheduling opportunities, thereby maintaining scheduler effectiveness while reducing active mode duration.
3Reliability
If devices continuously monitor control channels to detect scheduled data, then data reception reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the device periodically activates its receiver to monitor control channels only at specific intervals corresponding to scheduled transmission opportunities. This periodic monitoring approach maintains data reception reliability by ensuring the device is awake when data is actually transmitted, while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a radio communication device for discontinuous reception, DRX, of data from a radio network node is disclosed. When information, indicating that data is scheduled to the radio communication device in a DRX cycle, is received (102, 104(Y)) during an initial part of a DRX cycle, a receiver of the radio communication device is activated (110) at the time data is received and deactivated (110) when data is not received. When information is not received (104(N)) or when the information indicates that no data is scheduled (108(N)) during a remaining part of the DRX cycle, the receiver is kept (106) deactivated. A method performed by the radio network node for enabling DRX of data by the radio communication device is disclosed, as well as the radio communication device and the radio network node. Micro sleep during single time slices, such as time slots, is enabled.