HARQ-ACK Feedback Handling During Cell DTX Inactive Periods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network energy saving methods, such as discontinuous transmission (DTX) of cell base stations, face challenges in managing Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ-ACK) feedback during inactive periods, leading to inefficiencies and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for determining whether to send or receive HARQ-ACK feedback based on the type of HARQ-ACK codebook, specifically during inactive periods of DTX, to optimize communication and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If HARQ-ACK feedback is continuously transmitted during DTX inactive periods, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic HARQ-ACK feedback transmission by adjusting feedback behavior based on DTX state. During active periods, feedback is transmitted normally to maintain reliability. During inactive periods, the system dynamically suppresses feedback transmission to reduce power consumption, while still maintaining acceptable communication reliability through selective feedback based on codebook type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the feedback transmission parameter based on the DTX state and codebook type. When a first-type codebook is detected during inactive period, feedback transmission is suppressed. When a second-type codebook is detected, feedback transmission continues. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by adapting feedback behavior to system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If HARQ-ACK feedback transmission is suppressed during DTX inactive periods, then power consumption is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a codebook type parameter to control feedback transmission behavior. By detecting whether the HARQ-ACK codebook is of the first type or second type, the system selectively suppresses or maintains feedback transmission during inactive periods, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving communication reliability through intelligent parameter-based decision making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback about the codebook type to control feedback transmission. The UE detects the codebook type and uses this information to determine whether to transmit HARQ-ACK feedback during inactive periods. This feedback mechanism enables the system to reduce power consumption when reliability requirements are lower (first-type codebook) while maintaining reliability when needed (second-type codebook).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4712645A1Communication method and apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4712645A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3b
  • EP4712645A1 patent drawingFigure 3c~4b
  • EP4712645A1 patent drawingFigure 4c~5b

AI summary

Provided in the present disclosure are a communication method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method comprises: according to the type of a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) codebook, determining whether to send, to a network device, HARO-ACK feedback information corresponding to a first semi-persistent scheduling physical downlink shared channel (SPS PDSCH), wherein the time-domain position of the first SPS PDCH is located within an inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the network device. In the method of the present disclosure, when a network device is in an inactive period of DTX, a user equipment can process a HARQ-ACK feedback of an SPS PDSCH in different ways according to the type of a HARO-ACK codebook, such that the energy consumption of the user equipment can be reduced in an appropriate scenario, or interaction with the network device in a timely manner can be maintained.