Group Common DCI Cell-Off Signaling for Energy Saving
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing cell off indications for network energy saving modes, particularly in triggering conditional handovers, due to redundancy and inefficiencies in using Downlink Control Information (DCI) formats.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using separate bit fields or a flag in a predefined DCI format to distinctly indicate cell off and cell discontinuous operation, or combining them with a flag to differentiate between these indications, allowing efficient activation/deactivation of cell off and cell discontinuous transmission/reception for network energy saving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the same bit field in DCI format is used for both cell off indication and cell discontinuous operation indication, then signaling overhead is reduced, but ambiguity arises in distinguishing between the two indications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the interpretation of the bit field dynamic based on a flag value. The same bit field can represent different indications (cell off or cell discontinuous operation) depending on the state of a flag, allowing the system to adapt the meaning of signals based on current operational context without increasing overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the DCI bit field to serve multiple purposes. The same bit field can indicate either cell off or cell discontinuous operation based on the flag value, making the signaling mechanism universal and reducing the need for separate dedicated fields for each indication type
2Loss of information
If separate bit fields are used for cell off indication and cell discontinuous operation indication, then indication clarity is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cell off indication and cell discontinuous operation indication into a single DCI bit field structure. By combining these indications in one field and using a flag to differentiate them, the patent reduces signaling overhead while maintaining clear distinction between the two types of indications
3Loss of energy
If cell off for entering network energy saving mode is implemented, then network energy consumption is reduced, but handover complexity increases due to conditional handover triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing conditional handover (CHO) mechanisms that are prepared in advance. When cell off is indicated for network energy saving, the handover conditions are pre-configured and can be executed automatically when triggered, reducing the need for complex real-time decision-making and simplifying the handover process
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a solution on cell off indication via DCI. In particular, a group common DCI format is used to indicate an activation/deactivation of the cell off for entering network energy saving mode. DCI in the group common DCI format may include separate bits for a first indication regarding the activation/deactivation of the cell off for entering network energy saving mode and a second indication regarding the activation/deactivation of cell DTX/DRX. Alternatively, the DCI may include common bits for the first and second indications with a flag to indicate which indication. In this way, the cell off for entering network energy saving mode can be indicated more efficiently.