Extended DRX Hyper-Frame Paging for UE Power Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3GPP wireless communication systems limit the sleep time of User Equipment (UE) due to the SFN scheme, which restricts communication delays to approximately ten seconds, leading to inefficient power consumption and battery life, especially for delay-tolerant UEs that can handle longer delays.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of extended Discontinuous Reception (DRX) using hyper-frames, where a hyper-frame includes a predefined number of System Frame Number (SFN) frames, allowing for longer sleep cycles and improved power efficiency by extending wake-up intervals beyond the standard ten-second limit, while maintaining synchronization between cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If standard DRX cycle is used with SFN scheme, then synchronization is maintained, but sleep time is limited to approximately ten seconds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesleep timeVSAvoidsynchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time structure into hyper-frames (comprising multiple SFN frames) and introduces separate hyper-frame numbering. This segmentation allows the SFN scheme to be preserved for synchronization while enabling longer sleep cycles at the hyper-frame level, resolving the contradiction between limited sleep time and synchronization maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new time dimension by introducing hyper-frame numbering above the existing SFN structure. This dimensional addition allows the system to maintain SFN-based synchronization while enabling extended sleep periods measured in hyper-frames, effectively resolving the time limitation without compromising synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If wake up frequency is increased to maintain synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting time into hyper-frames and using hyper-frame numbering, the patent enables the UE to synchronize at the hyper-frame level rather than requiring wake-up every SFN cycle. This segmentation reduces the frequency of wake-ups while maintaining synchronization reliability, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic wake-up at hyper-frame intervals rather than continuous or frequent SFN-based wake-ups. This periodic action at extended intervals maintains synchronization reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to more frequent wake-up cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If sleep time is extended for delay tolerant UEs, then power efficiency is improved, but communication delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different DRX configurations to different UE types. Delay-tolerant UEs can use extended hyper-frame based DRX for improved power efficiency, while other UEs continue using standard SFN-based DRX. This local quality differentiation allows power efficiency improvement for specific UEs without imposing communication delays on all UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the DRX parameter from SFN-based cycles to hyper-frame-based cycles for delay-tolerant UEs. This parameter change enables extended sleep times and improved power efficiency for UEs that can tolerate the increased delay, while the network can still page these UEs at the appropriate hyper-frame boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3094154B1Efficient discontinuous reception in a mobile network
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 HFI INNOVATION INC
  • EP3094154B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3094154B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3094154B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method of extended DRX paging includes a base station that transmits extended DRX configuration information and a User Equipment (UE) receives the extended DRX configuration from the base station. The UE determines a first number of frames that are included in a hyper-frame based at least in part on the extended DRX configuration information and selects a hyper-frame number. The hyper-frame number is based at least in part on the extended DRX configuration information. The UE maintains a hyper-frame count and the hyper-frame count is incremented after each hyper-frame. The UE then goes into sleep mode and the UE determines a wake up time before a standard DRX cycle that occurs during the selected hyper-frame. The UE may also determine a first wake up time and a second wake up time based on the selected hyper-frame number and synchronization error between a first cell and a second cell.