Early Paging Indicator Using Phase-Continuous Tones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in battery energy conservation for user equipment (UE) in idle states, as they require complex and energy-intensive processing to detect paging messages, leading to reduced standby times and increased battery consumption.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an early paging indicator (EPI) system, which uses phase-continuous tones to inform UE about the presence or absence of a paging message before the actual paging occasion, allowing UEs to determine if they should proceed with energy-intensive processing or remain in a low-power state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UEs monitor paging messages in RRC_IDLE state using traditional methods, then they can detect paging messages, but battery energy consumption increases and standby time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging message detectionVSAvoidbattery energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The paging indication is segmented into two parts: a first indication (early paging indicator) that provides preliminary information about potential paging messages, and a second indication (full paging message) that contains the actual paging information. UEs only process the second indication if the first indication suggests paging is present, thereby segmenting the energy-consuming processing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by sending the first paging indication before the actual paging message. This early indication allows UEs to determine in advance whether they need to wake up and process the full paging message, preventing unnecessary energy expenditure on processing paging messages that are not intended for them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If UEs perform complex processing to detect paging messages, then paging detection accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into two stages: first detecting the early paging indicator (which consumes minimal energy), and only if needed, proceeding to detect the full paging message. This segmentation maintains detection accuracy by ensuring that full processing only occurs when necessary, while significantly reducing average energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first paging indication acts as an intermediary between the network and the UE's full paging processing. This intermediary provides preliminary information that mediates whether the UE should perform the energy-intensive full paging message processing, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing energy use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If UEs remain in RRC_CONNECTED state with DRX, then they can receive communications, but energy consumption is higher compared to RRC_IDLE state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reception capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary action by sending the early paging indication before the actual paging message. This allows UEs in RRC_IDLE state to wake up, check the early indication, and only perform full processing if paging is present, making the RRC_IDLE state as effective as RRC_CONNECTED with DRX for receiving communications while consuming less energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2453710B1Reducing energy consumption of mobile devices using early paging indicator
Publication Date: 2013.10.30 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2453710B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2453710B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2453710B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A method for reducing energy consumption of mobile devices using a phase-continuous early paging indicator (EPI) is provided. For each of at least one paging occasion either A) an EPI indicative that a page is present in the paging occasion is transmitted during an EPI occasion in advance of the paging occasion, the EPI comprising at least one phase-continuous tone for the EPI occasion, and a page is transmitted during the paging occasion, or B) an EPI indicative that a page is not present in the paging occasion is transmitted during an EPI occasion in advance of the paging occasion, the EPI comprising at least one phase-continuous tone for the EPI occasion. A mobile device is configured to monitor for an EPI that comprises at least one phase-continuous tone for an EPI occasion in advance of its paging occasion in order to determine if a page is potentially present.