DRX Reconfiguration for Power and Latency Trade-offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies, such as 3GPP LTE, face challenges in optimizing power consumption and reducing RRC signaling overhead while maintaining quality of service and connectivity, particularly in managing discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles for user equipment (UE) in wireless networks.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring UE with optimal DRX parameters and dormancy mechanisms using assistance information, such as traffic characteristics or power preferences, to negotiate power-saving states and adjust DRX cycles dynamically, allowing the UE to toggle between default and lower power consumption configurations to balance battery life and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If DRX cycles are extended to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic DRX cycle adjustment where the eNB configures different DRX parameters (shortDRX-Cycle, longDRX-Cycle, drx-shortCycleTimer, drx-InactivityTimer) based on UE assistance information and traffic conditions. The system transitions between short and long DRX cycles dynamically, allowing the UE to switch between power-saving mode (long cycle) and low-latency mode (short cycle) depending on current network conditions and UE state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If DRX configuration is optimized for power saving, then battery life is extended, but RRC signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidRRC signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the UE to autonomously determine its power consumption state and generate assistance information (powerPreferenceIndication) that it sends to the eNB. This self-service mechanism allows the UE to actively participate in its own power optimization by providing feedback about its traffic characteristics and power preferences, reducing the need for extensive RRC signaling from the network side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple DRX configurations are maintained for different UEs, then quality of service is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring DRX parameters individually for each UE based on its specific assistance information, traffic patterns, and power preferences. Each UE receives customized DRX configuration (shortDRX-Cycle, longDRX-Cycle, and associated timers) tailored to its local conditions rather than using a uniform configuration for all UEs, thereby optimizing QoS for each device while managing complexity through automated eNB decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2880951B1Discontinuous reception (DRX) reconfiguration
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 INTEL CORP
  • EP2880951B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2880951B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2880951B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Technology for communicating a discontinuous reception (DRX) reconfiguration is disclosed. In one method, a preferred power consumption configuration message is received, at an evolved node B (eNB) from a user equipment. The preferred power consumption configuration message may be a one-bit message using a first Boolean value to indicate a preferred power consumption configuration. A DRX reconfiguration request message may be received, from the UE, to reconfigure a DRX configuration of the UE to reduce a power consumption level of the UE. The DRX reconfiguration request message may be the one-bit message using a second Boolean value to indicate a DRX reconfiguration. The eNB may determine to reconfigure the DRX configuration of the UE based on the DRX reconfiguration request message. In addition, the eNB may perform the DRX reconfiguration at the UE by adjusting one or more parameters of the DRX configuration.