IoT UE Active Time Control for Lower Paging Power Drain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices in Power Saving Mode (PSM) consume significant battery life while listening for paging messages after data transfers, especially when they generate mostly mobile originate (MO) traffic, as they are required to remain registered and listen for potential mobile terminated (MT) data, leading to unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A network node sets an active time timer to zero for IoT devices that generate mostly MO traffic, determining if MT data is available, and sends a message to the device to indicate whether it should listen during active time, allowing the device to enter deep sleep when no MT data is pending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE listens for paging messages after data transfers to remain registered on the network, then the network connectivity and reliability are maintained, but the battery life is significantly reduced due to continuous power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by allowing the UE to enter PSM deep sleep mode where it periodically wakes up only when necessary (e.g., when MT data is available or periodic TAU is required) rather than continuously listening for paging messages. This periodic wake-up mechanism maintains network connectivity while dramatically reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node (MME) performs self-service by proactively determining whether MT data is available for the UE and sending this information to the UE before the UE enters PSM. This allows the UE to make informed decisions about whether to wake up and listen for paging, eliminating unnecessary power consumption while maintaining reliable connectivity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UE enters PSM deep sleep to save battery power, then energy consumption is reduced, but the device cannot immediately receive or respond to incoming data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network node determine the availability of MT data and communicate this information to the UE before the UE enters PSM deep sleep. This preliminary information allows the UE to plan its wake-up schedule appropriately, ensuring it wakes up when data is available rather than sleeping through incoming data or waking up unnecessarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node provides feedback to the UE about MT data availability, enabling the UE to adjust its PSM behavior accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the UE maintains optimal balance between power savings and data reception responsiveness by waking up only when necessary.
3Reliability
If the UE listens for paging after every session to check for MT data, then complete data delivery is ensured, but unnecessary power consumption occurs when no MT data is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decision-making function from the UE and places it in the network node. The MME determines whether MT data is available and communicates this to the UE, allowing the UE to extract itself from the cycle of unnecessary paging listening. This ensures complete data delivery while eliminating wasted energy by having the UE listen for paging only when the network indicates MT data is available.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods to increase battery life of a user equipment (UE) by reducing the amount of time a UE spends in active time listening for paging messages following mobile originate (MO) or mobile terminated (MT) data transfers. A network node may receive, from a UE, a message including an identifier of the UE and a request to set the duration of an active time timer to zero. The network node may determine whether any MT traffic is available for the UE, and send a message to the UE including the duration of the active time timer or some other indicator to indicate to the UE whether or not MT data is awaiting transmission.