DRX Reception Control to Reduce Unnecessary PDCCH Wake-Ups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 4G and 5G mobile communication systems face high energy consumption due to terminals waking up at configured cycles for PDCCH blind detections and lack of explicit restrictions on public message reception during sleep, limiting the performance of discontinuous reception (DRX).

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for configuring and controlling DRX operations based on indication information within a DRX cycle, allowing terminals to dynamically switch between wake-up and dormancy states, optimizing DRX performance by reducing unnecessary PDCCH detections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal wakes up at configured cycle times to perform PDCCH blind detections in DRX mode, then the terminal can detect control channels and maintain connectivity, but the terminal experiences increased energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity maintenanceVSAvoidterminal energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal autonomously determines whether to wake up for PDCCH detection by evaluating local conditions such as whether it has data to send or receive, whether it has received a wake-up signal, or whether the current time falls within an on-duration. This self-service mechanism eliminates unnecessary wake-ups while maintaining required connectivity, directly reducing energy consumption without sacrificing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention dynamically adjusts DRX parameters including on-duration length, off-duration length, and wake-up signal configuration based on terminal state and network conditions. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes the balance between connectivity reliability and energy consumption, allowing longer sleep durations when possible while maintaining necessary uplink/downlink functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the terminal performs PDCCH blind detections during DRX on-duration, then the terminal can receive control channels, but the terminal cannot restrict reception of public messages during sleep, limiting DRX performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel receptionVSAvoidDRX performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and separates the reception of public messages (such as system information) from the regular PDCCH detection process. By identifying and removing unnecessary public message receptions during sleep periods, the terminal can enter deeper sleep states while still maintaining essential control channel reception, thereby improving overall DRX performance without compromising critical control functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal dynamically adjusts its reception behavior based on current state and requirements. When in deep sleep mode, the terminal restricts reception to only essential control channels while excluding public messages. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize DRX performance by being selective about what is received during different operational states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3836636B1Reception configuration method, reception control method, terminal, base station, and storage media
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 ZTE CORP
  • EP3836636B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3836636B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9
  • EP3836636B1 patent drawingFigure 10~12

AI summary

Provided are a reception configuration method and apparatus, a reception control method and apparatus, a terminal, a base station and a storage medium. The reception configuration includes: determining a detection result of indication information within a first time length in a DRX cycle, where the DRX cycle includes an on duration and an off duration; and determining a DRX operation according to the detection result.