Discontinuous Reception Timer Synchronization in Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems with carrier aggregation, there is a challenge in ensuring consistent discontinuous reception (DRX) timing across different serving cells due to varying time division duplexing configurations, leading to potential errors in subframe counting and incorrect operation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for receiving and sending different time division duplexing configurations for serving cells, with subframes counted according to a predefined rule to operate timer functions, ensuring consistent DRX operation across cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different time division duplexing configurations are used for different serving cells in carrier aggregation, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inconsistent DRX timing and subframe counting errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidDRX timing consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different TDD configurations (different qualities of uplink/downlink subframe distributions) for different serving cells while introducing a unified counting rule that identifies a specific reference cell whose configuration is used for DRX timing. This enables each cell to have optimized local characteristics while maintaining system-wide timing consistency through the reference cell mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If common DRX configuration is applied across all serving cells, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to optimize for different cell configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDRX timing consistencyVSAvoidconfiguration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by allowing each serving cell to maintain its own optimized TDD configuration while designating one reference cell whose configuration governs the common DRX timing. This enables local optimization for each cell's traffic patterns while ensuring global timing synchronization through the reference cell's configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If subframe counting is performed differently for different TDD configurations, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to incorrect DRX operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration supportVSAvoidsubframe counting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by establishing a universal subframe counting rule that works across all TDD configurations. The rule identifies a reference cell and uses its TDD configuration as the basis for counting subframes for DRX timing, ensuring that all UEs perform subframe counting in the same manner regardless of the number or configuration of serving cells, thereby achieving both adaptability and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20220006602A1Discontinuous Reception for Carrier Aggregation

Publication Date: 2022.01.06 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for carrier aggregation with discontinuous reception is disclosed. At least two different time division duplexing configurations can be communicated from serving cells to a device, the subframes of the at least two different configurations being counted for purposes of operating at least one timer function according to a predefined rule of counting. Discontinuous communications by the serving cells with the device are controlled based on the predefined rule of counting such that at least one timer function associated with discontinuous reception from the serving cells is operated based on the counting.