Forward Link Monitoring for Power-Saving Star Topology UEs

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, particularly in star topology networks, peripheral user equipment (UEs) face significant power consumption due to the need to continuously monitor forward links for control messages, especially in scenarios with discontinuous reception and potential congestion, leading to inefficient power usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mechanism where peripheral UEs monitor forward links for a duration and establish an operational mode based on the presence or absence of control messages, allowing them to enter power-saving modes when no data is expected, optimizing power consumption by reducing unnecessary searching and monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If peripheral UEs continuously monitor forward links for control messages, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where peripheral UEs alternate between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During active periods, UEs monitor forward links for control messages; during sleep periods, monitoring is suspended to conserve power. This periodic action maintains communication reliability during active phases while reducing power consumption during sleep phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The hub UE transmits wake-up indicators or control messages in advance to notify peripheral UEs of upcoming data transmissions. This preliminary action allows peripheral UEs to remain in low-power states until needed, then activate only when the hub UE indicates data is forthcoming, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing unnecessary power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If peripheral UEs monitor forward links during DRX cycles, then data reception capability is improved, but power consumption during active periods increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reception capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during active periods
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial monitoring during active periods where peripheral UEs monitor only specific time-frequency resources allocated for control messages rather than continuously monitoring all resources. This partial action maintains data reception capability for relevant communications while reducing processing and power consumption during active periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If peripheral UEs perform full monitoring of forward links, then control message detection accuracy is improved, but unnecessary searching increases power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol message detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent directs peripheral UEs to monitor specific local resources (dedicated control resource sets, specific time-frequency positions) allocated for their control messages rather than performing full-wide monitoring. This localized monitoring maintains detection accuracy for relevant control messages while eliminating power consumption from searching unrelated resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4727223A2Methods and system for forward link power saving in a star topology of user equipment
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4727223A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4727223A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4727223A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of wireless communication performed by a first user equipment, UE, and the first UE are described. The method comprising monitoring (810), for a first duration, a forward link connecting a second UE to the first UE for a control message transmitted by the second UE to the first UE, wherein the control message is a group common control message including an indication of a bloom filter, and establishing (820) an operational mode for a second duration immediately following the first duration based on the indication of the bloom filter in the control message, wherein the operational mode is one of an active mode or a power saving mode.