Keep-Alive SSB Signaling for Idle-Mode Network Energy Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in reducing energy consumption during idle modes, particularly in maintaining network synchronization while minimizing power usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a keep-alive signal (KAS) that is a reduced synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted more frequently with a different beam sweeping pattern and/or beam width, and periodically skipping synchronization signals to conserve energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full SSB transmissions are used to maintain network presence, then connection reliability is improved, but network energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the full SSB transmission into two types: full SSB transmissions for reliable connection establishment and keep-alive SSB transmissions for maintaining network presence with reduced power consumption. This segmentation allows the network to use different transmission strategies for different purposes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the necessary components of SSB (synchronization signals and control channels) without full data transmissions during idle modes. The keep-alive SSB includes a subset of full SSB components, providing sufficient network presence indication while reducing energy consumption compared to full SSB transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of time

If keep-alive signaling is transmitted frequently to maintain network presence, then connection latency is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection latencyVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transmits keep-alive SSB at reduced intervals compared to full SSB transmissions, using partial action to maintain network presence without excessive energy consumption. The keep-alive SSB is transmitted sufficiently frequently to maintain connection readiness while consuming less power than continuous full SSB transmissions would require.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes transmission parameters by using different beam sweeping patterns and reduced transmission intervals for keep-alive SSB compared to full SSB. These parameter modifications allow the network to maintain presence with lower energy consumption while still providing timely responses to reconnect requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If full SSB transmissions are used during idle mode, then network visibility is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork visibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments network visibility maintenance into two approaches: full SSB transmissions for initial network announcement and keep-alive SSB transmissions for maintaining visibility during idle modes. This segmentation allows the network to use minimal necessary transmissions for visibility while saving power compared to continuous full SSB transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses simplified keep-alive SSB signals that consume less power than full SSB transmissions. These reduced signals are sufficient for maintaining network visibility and can be transmitted at lower power levels, effectively replacing the need for expensive full SSB transmissions during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12615685B2Keep-alive signal for network energy saving in a wireless network

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques and apparatuses for using keep-alive signaling for network energy saving in an idle mode. A network entity can transmit a keep-alive signal (KAS) to reduce the energy consumption of a network when the network is in an idle mode. In some aspects, the KAS can be a reduced synchronization signal block (SSB) that is sent more frequently than a full SSB. In some aspects, the KAS can have a different beam sweeping pattern and/or beam width from the full SSB.