DRX Timer Management for Multicast Wireless Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) operations, existing methods fail to efficiently manage discontinuous reception (DRX) commands, leading to unnecessary power consumption in User Equipment (UE) as they continue to monitor the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) even after receiving a DRX Command MAC Control Element (CE), which is not addressed by conventional DRX timer management.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution allows the gNB to schedule DRX Command MAC CE for multicast operations, enabling UE to stop relevant DRX timers, thereby saving power by allowing more opportunities for scheduling DRX commands on pre-configured downlink assignments or through Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) addressed to Group-Configured Scheduling (CS)-RNTI, allowing the UE to stop DRX timers upon receiving a DRX Command MAC CE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE continues to monitor PDCCH after receiving a DRX Command MAC CE for multicast operations, then the UE can receive any potential retransmissions or updates, but the UE power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE stop DRX timers immediately upon receiving a DRX Command MAC CE for multicast operations. This preliminary stopping of timers prevents unnecessary continued monitoring of PDCCH, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability through the preliminary receipt of the DRX command itself which provides sufficient information for the UE to enter sleep mode without missing critical transmissions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the gNB schedules DRX Command MAC CE on pre-configured downlink assignments or PDCCH addressed to G-CS-RNTI, then the UE can stop DRX timers to save power, but the scheduling flexibility and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the gNB to schedule DRX Command MAC CE on pre-configured downlink assignments or PDCCH addressed to G-CS-RNTI, which are existing multicast transmission resources. This multi-functional use of established resources allows the UE to stop DRX timers and save power without requiring entirely new scheduling mechanisms, thereby reducing the increase in scheduling complexity while still achieving power savings.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the UE stops DRX timers upon receiving DRX Command MAC CE for multicast, then power saving is achieved, but the UE may miss subsequent transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a mechanism where the UE stops DRX timers upon receiving a DRX Command MAC CE for multicast operations, and the network provides feedback through the DRX command itself that indicates whether further transmissions are expected. This feedback mechanism ensures that the UE can confidently stop monitoring and save power without missing critical transmissions, as the network feedback provides sufficient information about subsequent transmission intentions.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses can comprise a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system applying at least a unicast discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration associated with a first onDuration timer and/or a first Inactivity timer, applying at least a multicast DRX configuration associated with a second onDuration timer and/or a second Inactivity timer, receiving a DRX Command Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) sent from a network by a periodic (pre)-configured downlink assignment for multicast, stopping the second onDuration timer, and stopping the second Inactivity timer.