Dynamic Paging Opportunity Window Adjustment for Unlicensed Spectrum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in energy-efficient paging, particularly in unlicensed or shared spectrum environments, where the existing methods fail to balance power consumption and effective message transmission, leading to inefficiencies in access to the transmission medium.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves dynamically adjusting the paging opportunity window (POW) duration and frequency based on listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure outcomes and performance metrics, allowing the UE and base station to increase the number of paging opportunities to ensure reliable communication while conserving power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the paging opportunity window (POW) size is increased to ensure reliable message transmission in shared spectrum environments, then the reliability of communication is improved, but the power consumption of the UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the POW size adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically modifies the POW duration based on LBT failure conditions, allowing it to expand when transmission reliability is compromised and contract when conditions improve, thus balancing reliability requirements with power consumption efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameter (POW duration) in response to detected LBT failures. When LBT failures occur, the system extends the POW size to provide additional opportunities for successful paging transmission, and resets it to nominal size when conditions improve, directly addressing the reliability-power consumption tradeoff

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the number of paging opportunities is increased to meet performance metrics in shared spectrum, then the communication performance is improved, but the time required for paging operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging performanceVSAvoidpaging operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of paging opportunities based on actual LBT failure conditions rather than using a fixed increased number. This allows the system to achieve necessary performance metrics only when required, avoiding unnecessary time extensions when performance requirements are already met

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors LBT failure conditions and uses this information to determine whether to increase the POW size. This feedback loop ensures that the system only expands paging opportunities when actual performance degradation is detected, optimizing the balance between performance and time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the UE autonomously updates the POW size based on LBT failure detection, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoidUE complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the UE to autonomously detect LBT failures and self-adjust the POW size without requiring complex network-side control or coordination. The UE serves itself by monitoring channel conditions and independently modifying its paging reception parameters, thereby achieving high adaptability with minimal additional complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous update mechanism relies on simple feedback from LBT failure detection to trigger POW size adjustments. This feedback-driven approach allows the UE to adapt to changing channel conditions using straightforward logic rather than complex algorithms, maintaining low device complexity while achieving high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3501238B1Energy-efficient paging in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3501238B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3501238B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3501238B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) and a base station operating in unlicensed spectrum may temporarily increase a paging opportunity window (POW) size, or reduce a time between POWs, in order to meet performance metrics or account for time periods when a base station is unable to win access to the wireless medium during a POW. In some cases, a UE may identify a failed listen-before-talk procedure and autonomously update the POW size. In other examples, a base station may initiate a change in POW size or increase a number of paging opportunities in order to meet achieve one or more key performance indicators (KPIs). After a predetermined period, or after a triggering condition is no longer present, the UE and the base station may reset the POW size or the number of paging opportunities to a nominal amount to conserve power.