eDRX Configuration for RRC Inactive State Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications do not define a processing procedure for applying Enhanced Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) technology to terminals in both idle and inactive RRC states, specifically in the context of New Radio (NR) wireless communication systems, lacking clarity on how to configure eDRX parameters for these states.
Innovation Solution
A terminal, base station, and core network device configuration that allows for the transmission and reception of eDRX configuration values, enabling the terminal to perform eDRX in the inactive state by requesting and receiving eDRX configuration information, which includes the number of starting positions of reception periods within a given Hyper-Frame Number (H-SFN), ensuring alignment with received configuration to facilitate eDRX operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If eDRX is applied to terminals in inactive RRC states, then power consumption is reduced, but configuration complexity increases due to lack of defined processing procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the eDRX mechanism, originally designed for idle states, to also function in inactive RRC states. By making the eDRX configuration universal across multiple RRC states (idle and inactive), the system achieves power savings in inactive states without requiring a completely new mechanism, thus reducing overall configuration complexity while enabling the power saving feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specific eDRX configuration parameters for inactive states, including drx-Hyper-Frames-Value, drx-Start-Offset, and n1, n2, n3 indicating numbers of starting positions. By defining these parameters and their relationships through mathematical expressions (e.g., determining reception period start positions based on UE ID and configuration parameters), the patent provides a structured way to manage the complexity of eDRX in inactive states.
2Loss of energy
If eDRX configuration parameters are defined for inactive states, then power saving capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional configuration management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eDRX configuration into distinct parameters for different RRC states. For inactive states, it specifically defines drx-Hyper-Frames-Value, drx-Start-Offset, and separate indicators (n1, n2, n3) for different reception period scenarios. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by treating inactive state eDRX as a specialized configuration subset rather than a completely separate mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the terminal to request eDRX configuration for inactive states in advance through RRC messages (e.g., RRCSetupComplete, RRCResumeComplete). The network device can pre-configure and notify the terminal of eDRX parameters before the terminal actually enters the inactive state, allowing the terminal to prepare the configuration ahead of time and reduce on-the-fly complexity during state transitions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple starting positions for reception periods are configured, then eDRX flexibility is improved, but configuration management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic selection of starting positions based on the actual number of reception periods needed. The configuration includes n1, n2, n3 indicators that specify different numbers of starting positions for different scenarios (e.g., n1 for one reception period, n2 for two periods, n3 for three or more periods). This dynamic configuration approach allows the system to adapt to different traffic patterns and power saving requirements without requiring a fixed, overly complex configuration structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device pre-calculates and notifies the terminal of the appropriate starting positions and their quantities before the terminal enters inactive state. By providing this information in advance through RRC messages, the terminal can efficiently manage multiple starting positions without having to perform complex real-time calculations, thus reducing configuration management complexity while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a configuration request requesting configuration of an eDRX configuration value for an RRC inactive state, the eDRX configuration value including information indicating the number of candidates for a starting position of a reception period in a given H-SFN, a reception unit configured to receive second configuration information including the eDRX configuration value for the RRC inactive state, which is configured in response to the configuration request transmitted from the transmission unit, the eDRX configuration value including the information indicating the number of candidates for the starting position of the reception period in the given H-SFN, and a control unit configured to perform control such that the starting position of the reception period in the given H-SFN is specified according to the second configuration information received by the reception unit to perform eDRX in the RRC inactive state.