eDRX Cycle Paging Buffering for Wireless Device Reachability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially those using eDRX (Extended Discontinuous Receive) cycles, there is a challenge in ensuring efficient delivery of downlink data to devices in power-saving modes, as traditional paging procedures can lead to timeouts and increased energy consumption due to inadequate consideration of the device's eDRX cycle, resulting in battery life issues and potential false unreachability conclusions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a core network node and radio access network node configuration that buffers IP packets and calculates the next occurrence of a nominal paging group, allowing for timely transmission of page requests before the device's reachability period, thereby avoiding timeouts and optimizing energy usage by aligning with the device's eDRX cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional paging procedures are used without considering eDRX cycle, then network simplicity is maintained, but data delivery reliability deteriorates due to timeouts and false unreachability conclusions
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary actions by calculating the next occurrence of the nominal paging group before sending the page request. This advance calculation ensures the page request is sent at the optimal time when the device is reachable, preventing timeouts and improving delivery reliability without adding complex real-time coordination mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering mechanism where IP packets are held in a buffer until the appropriate paging time is calculated and reached. This intermediary buffer acts as a mediator between the incoming data stream and the eDRX-synchronized paging transmission, ensuring reliable delivery while maintaining network procedure simplicity
2Use of energy by moving object
If page requests are sent immediately without buffering, then network response time is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to mismatched timing with device reachability periods
Solution Approach 1:
The network node calculates the next occurrence of the nominal paging group in advance and buffers the IP packet until this calculated time. This preliminary timing calculation ensures the page request is sent precisely when the device is reachable, optimizing energy consumption without significant delay since the calculation is performed immediately upon packet arrival
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the periodic nature of eDRX cycles by scheduling page requests to align with the device's periodic reachability windows. By sending page requests only during these designated periods when the device is awake and reachable, the system optimizes energy consumption while maintaining efficient data delivery timing
3Duration of action of moving object
If eDRX cycle timing is precisely coordinated, then battery life is extended, but network node complexity increases due to calculation and buffering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary calculation of the next nominal paging group occurrence using the device's eDRX cycle parameters. This advance calculation allows the node to extend the device's battery life by scheduling transmissions during reachability periods, while the computational complexity remains manageable since the calculation is based on simple periodic timing formulas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary component that temporarily holds IP packets during the calculation and timing coordination process. This buffer mediates between the continuous data stream and the periodic eDRX transmission schedule, enabling battery life extension through precise timing coordination while keeping the network node complexity manageable through a simple buffering mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
A core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node), a radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem) and various methods are described herein for implementing longer paging cycles (e.g., Extended Discontinuous Receive (eDRX) cycles) for wireless devices in a wireless communication network.