Extending Idle DRX Cycles via Device-to-Device Paging Assistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles and paging procedures for low complexity user equipment (UEs), which leads to increased power consumption and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves extending the idle DRX cycles of low complexity UEs by leveraging external assistance from more capable UEs via device-to-device communications. This allows the low complexity UEs to skip certain paging occasions, thereby conserving power and improving the robustness of paging procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If low complexity UEs monitor paging messages periodically according to DRX cycle, then they can receive paging messages from base station, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaging message receptionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

More capable UEs perform preliminary actions by monitoring paging messages on behalf of low complexity UEs during extended idle DRX cycles. The assisting UE proactively receives paging information from the base station and stores it, so that when the low complexity UE wakes up, the paging message is already available for forwarding, eliminating the need for the low complexity UE to continuously monitor paging occasions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A second UE acts as an intermediary between the base station and the low complexity UE. The assisting UE receives paging messages from the base station via device-to-device communication and forwards them to the low complexity UE, mediating the communication process and allowing the low complexity UE to extend its idle DRX cycle while maintaining reliable paging reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If low complexity UEs extend idle DRX cycles to save power, then power consumption decreases, but paging message reception reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpaging message reception

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second UE serves as a reliable intermediary that maintains the paging reception function while the low complexity UE extends its idle DRX cycle. The assisting UE continuously monitors paging occasions and receives paging messages from the base station, ensuring that no paging messages are missed even when the low complexity UE remains in low power state for extended periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The assisting UE creates a copy of the paging message reception function for the low complexity UE. By monitoring paging messages on behalf of the low complexity UE and storing the received paging information, the assisting UE effectively copies the critical paging reception capability, allowing the low complexity UE to extend its DRX cycle without compromising reception reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If low complexity UEs use device-to-device communication for paging assistance, then paging procedure robustness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaging procedure robustnessVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by allowing capable UEs to automatically provide paging assistance to low complexity UEs without requiring complex coordination protocols. The assisting UE autonomously monitors paging occasions, receives paging messages, and forwards them to the low complexity UE, reducing the need for complex inter-device negotiation and protocol management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12273858B2Discontinuous reception cycle extension and paging with external assistance

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Idle discontinuous reception (I-DRX) cycles at a user equipment (UE) may be extended via leveraging of paging assistance from a second UE. For example, a low complexity UE may have a connection to a network (e.g., via a link to a base station) as well as a connection to another UE (e.g., via a device-to-device link to a regular UE). In cases where such a low complexity UE receives paging messages from the network, a UE associated with a device-to-device link of the low complexity UE may monitor paging messages on behalf of the low complexity UE. As such, the low complexity UE may extend its I-DRX cycle, as the assisting UE monitors paging information for the low complexity UE. The assisting UE may forward paging information for the low complexity UE according to paging occasions of the extended I-DRX cycle of the low complexity UE.