Group Common C-DRX Commands for Aligned UE Sleep Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in power consumption and resource utilization due to non-aligned discontinuous reception (DRX) modes among multiple user equipment (UEs), leading to suboptimal power saving and network resource usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing group common cell discontinuous reception (C-DRX) commands that synchronize UE sleep modes across a group, allowing network entities to transition into sleep modes with aligned configurations, including specific channel monitoring and transmission protocols, based on UE reporting and network selection criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If individual UEs operate with independent DRX modes, then each UE can optimize its own power consumption, but the network cannot enter sleep mode efficiently leading to wasted network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual UE DRX modes into a unified group common C-DRX mode. Multiple UEs are grouped together and share a common sleep/wake schedule, allowing the network to enter sleep mode when all grouped UEs are asleep, thereby eliminating network energy waste while maintaining UE power saving benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments UEs into different groups based on their DRX alignment status and power saving needs. Each group can operate with its own synchronized C-DRX configuration, allowing fine-grained control over when the network and individual UEs should be active or dormant
2Reliability
If UEs continuously monitor all downlink channels, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic C-DRX cycles where UEs monitor downlink channels only during specific active periods rather than continuously. The network and UEs synchronize their wake-up times to check for pending communications, then enter sleep mode between cycles, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability through periodic checks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where UEs report their DRX status and communication needs to the network. This feedback allows the network to adjust C-DRX configurations dynamically, ensuring UEs wake up when needed while minimizing unnecessary monitoring during sleep periods
3Loss of energy
If the network enters sleep mode frequently, then power consumption is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating sleep mode transitions across multiple UEs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal group common C-DRX command structure that serves multiple functions: it synchronizes UE wake-up times, coordinates network sleep mode transitions, manages channel monitoring schedules, and handles handover procedures during sleep mode. This multi-functional approach reduces coordination complexity by consolidating multiple control functions into a single standardized mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A first user equipment (UE) may receive a group common command from a network entity that indicates a transition to a UE sleep mode. The network entity may transmit the group common command to one or more UEs, including the first UE, and may subsequently transition to the sleep mode. The command may include an indication for the one or more UEs to transition to the sleep mode. For example, the command may indicate a quantity of slots during which the group of UEs may remain in the sleep mode. In some examples, the command may indicate a set of channels for each UE of the group of UEs to monitor or use for signal transmission or reception during the sleep mode. Thus, UE sleep modes may be aligned so that the network entity may enter a cell sleep mode.