Dynamic DRX Pattern Switching for Wireless Terminal Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism in communication systems lacks flexibility, with fixed active and sleeping periods, which limits the terminal's ability to adapt to varying service quality and data transmission requirements, leading to suboptimal power consumption and communication efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow a terminal to dynamically switch between different DRX patterns based on service quality, data encoding/decoding times, and other service attributes, enabling real-time adjustments to DRX sleeping and active periods as indicated by a network device, thereby improving communication flexibility and power management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal uses a fixed DRX pattern with predetermined active and sleeping periods, then power consumption is reduced during idle periods, but the terminal loses flexibility to adapt to varying service quality and data transmission requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidflexibility in communicating with network device
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic DRX pattern switching by allowing the terminal to transition between multiple pre-configured DRX patterns based on real-time service conditions. The network device triggers pattern switching through indication information, enabling the terminal to adapt its active and sleeping periods dynamically rather than using a fixed pattern, thus resolving the contradiction between power saving and communication flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of DRX operation by providing multiple DRX patterns with different active period durations and sleeping period durations. The terminal switches between these patterns by changing the selected pattern's parameters based on service quality requirements and data transmission conditions, thereby achieving both power efficiency and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal frequently switches between DRX patterns to adapt to changing service conditions, then communication flexibility improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in communicating with network deviceVSAvoidcomplexity of DRX pattern management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple DRX patterns and their corresponding service conditions before actual operation. The terminal stores these pre-defined patterns and simply selects the appropriate one based on current conditions, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations and reducing system complexity while maintaining high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network device monitors service conditions and sends indication information to trigger DRX pattern switching. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions automatically without requiring complex terminal-side decision-making, thereby improving flexibility while controlling system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3554182B1Methods and apparatus for discontinuous reception
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3554182B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3554182B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3554182B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

Disclosed in the present application are a method and apparatus for discontinuous reception. The method comprises: a terminal device receives handover instruction information sent by a network device, the handover instruction information being used instructing the terminal device to be handed over from a currently-used first discontinuous reception (DRX) pattern to a second DRX pattern, and the first DRX pattern and the second DRX pattern being used for indicating a time period corresponding to a DRX dormancy period and a time period corresponding to a DRX activation period; and the terminal device performs a handover between the DRX dormancy period and the DRX activation period by using the second DRX pattern. The terminal can perform handovers of the DRX patterns in real time according to the handover instruction information of the network device, and can perform handovers between the DRX dormancy period and the DRX activation period by using the different DRX patterns, thereby improving the flexibility when the terminal communicates with the network device by using a DRX working mechanism.