Dynamic DRX Cycle Selection for Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication technologies cause unnecessary power consumption in terminal devices due to the fixed entry into a DRX short cycle after the DRX inactivity timer expires, even for delay-insensitive services, leading to inefficient battery usage.
Innovation Solution
The terminal device determines the type of the next DRX cycle based on the association of received data with a DRX short or long cycle, allowing it to flexibly switch between DRX short and long cycles, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the terminal device always enters a DRX short cycle when the DRX inactivity timer expires, then the responsiveness to incoming data is improved, but the power consumption increases unnecessarily for delay-insensitive services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the DRX cycle duration dynamic by allowing the terminal device to adaptively select between short and long cycles based on service characteristics. The network device configures different DRX cycle lengths for different services, and the terminal device switches between them according to the active service type, transforming the fixed DRX mechanism into a flexible, condition-based system that optimizes power consumption while maintaining responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the DRX cycle parameter (duration) based on service requirements. The network device configures multiple DRX cycle parameters (short and long cycles) for different services, and the terminal device adjusts the active DRX cycle parameter according to the service type. This parameter adaptation allows the system to use shorter cycles for delay-sensitive services and longer cycles for delay-insensitive services, resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and power consumption.
2Reliability
If the terminal device enters a DRX short cycle after the DRX inactivity timer expires, then the readiness for immediate data transmission is improved, but the battery life is reduced due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptation to the DRX mechanism by enabling the terminal device to switch between short and long DRX cycles based on service characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts the DRX cycle duration to match the actual service requirements, using short cycles only when necessary for immediate responsiveness and long cycles when power conservation is more critical, thereby extending battery life while maintaining adequate readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter adaptation by configuring multiple DRX cycle duration parameters and selecting the appropriate one based on service type. The network device provides different DRX cycle configurations, and the terminal device changes the active parameter according to whether the service is delay-sensitive or delay-insensitive, optimizing the balance between readiness and battery life.
3Device complexity
If the terminal device uses a fixed DRX short cycle configuration, then the implementation simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to different service requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DRX cycle configuration into different types (short cycle and long cycle) tailored to different service requirements. The network device configures separate DRX parameters for different services, and the terminal device selects the appropriate segment based on the active service type. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple implementation within each service type while achieving high adaptability across different service categories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal DRX mechanism that can serve multiple service types by implementing a selection framework. The terminal device maintains a set of DRX cycle configurations and selectively applies them based on service characteristics. This multi-functionality approach allows a single DRX implementation to adapt to both delay-sensitive and delay-insensitive services, achieving versatility without requiring completely separate mechanisms for each service type.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a communication method and apparatus, to determine a DRX cycle. The method includes: receiving data in an active time of a current DRX cycle; when a DRX inactivity timer of the current DRX cycle expires, determining a type of a next DRX cycle depending on whether at least some data received in the active time is associated with a DRX short cycle, where if the at least some data is not associated with a DRX short cycle, the next DRX cycle is a DRX long cycle, or the type of the next DRX cycle is the same as that of a DRX cycle previous to the current DRX cycle. When the DRX inactivity timer expires, the type of the next DRX cycle can be more flexibly determined, and may not necessarily be a DRX short cycle. This can save power of a device to some extent.