Forward Link Wake-Up Signaling for UE Power Saving

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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 the forward link for control messages, especially during discontinuous reception, which can be exacerbated by congestion and random traffic arrivals.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the hub UE sends control messages, such as SCI or MAC-CE, to inform peripheral UEs about upcoming data, allowing them to enter power-saving modes if no data is scheduled, using bitmap or bloom filters to optimize power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If peripheral UEs continuously monitor the forward link for control messages, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) where peripheral UEs periodically wake up to monitor the forward link for control messages during specific wake-up intervals, then return to sleep mode. This periodic monitoring approach maintains data transmission reliability by ensuring UEs check for messages at regular intervals while dramatically reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If peripheral UEs monitor the forward link during discontinuous reception, then power consumption is reduced, but data reception reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata reception reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs wake-up signals that are transmitted before the actual data transmission. These preliminary wake-up signals alert peripheral UEs to wake up and monitor the forward link only when data is about to be transmitted. This preliminary action ensures that UEs are in the correct state to receive data reliably while minimizing the time they need to spend in high-power monitoring states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If control messages are transmitted frequently to maintain connection, then connection reliability is improved, but power consumption and network congestion increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates wake-up signals from regular data transmissions by using dedicated physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources specifically for wake-up signal transmission. This separation allows the network to efficiently manage connection maintenance with minimal overhead, reducing both power consumption and network congestion while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4205453B1Methods and system for forward link power saving in a star topology of user equipment

Publication Date: 2026.02.25 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

Wireless communications systems and methods related to power saving over a forward link of a star topology of user equipment (UE) are provided. In some aspects, a first UE may monitor the forward link connecting a second UE to the first UE for a control message transmitted by the second UE to the first UE. The first UE may then establish an operational mode based on the result of the monitoring for the control message, such as but not limited to a power saving mode or an active mode.