LP-WUS Signaling for PDCCH Monitoring Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in PDCCH monitoring adaptation due to the use of control channel elements for signaling, leading to latency and ambiguity in UE behavior, particularly in scenarios involving hybrid automatic repeat requests and connected-mode discontinuous reception.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) to indicate PDCCH monitoring adaptations, such as PDCCH skipping or search space set group switching, reducing the need for control channel element usage and clarifying UE behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If PDCCH monitoring adaptation is signaled in DCI, then the UE can adapt PDCCH monitoring behavior, but control channel elements are consumed causing latency in data communications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePDCCH monitoring adaptation capabilityVSAvoiddata communication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the PDCCH monitoring adaptation indication from the DCI format and places it in a separate wake-up signal. This separation removes the adaptation signaling from the control channel elements that are critical for data transmission, preventing CCE consumption and the associated latency issues while maintaining the ability to adapt PDCCH monitoring behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a wake-up signal as an intermediary mechanism between the network and the UE for conveying PDCCH monitoring adaptation information. This intermediary channel dedicated to wake-up signals serves as a separate pathway that does not interfere with the control channel resources needed for data communication, thereby resolving the latency problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If PDCCH monitoring adaptation is signaled in DCI, then the UE can adapt PDCCH monitoring behavior, but ambiguity arises regarding UE behavior in HARQ retransmission and C-DRX scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePDCCH monitoring adaptation capabilityVSAvoidUE behavior clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of embedding adaptation information within the DCI where it creates ambiguity, the patent inverts the approach by using a dedicated wake-up signal format that is specifically designed for this purpose. This inversion provides clear, unambiguous instructions to the UE about monitoring adaptation without the confusion that arises from multiplexing multiple functions in DCI.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250386295A1Low-power wake-up signal indicating a physical downlink control channel monitoring adaptation

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. Various aspects relate generally to a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) indicating a PDCCH monitoring adaptation. Some aspects more specifically relate to the use of an LP-WUS to signal a PDCCH monitoring adaptation to be applied by a UE. In some aspects, a network node may transmit, and a UE may receive, an LP-WUS indicating a PDCCH monitoring adaptation to be applied by the UE. Here, the PDCCH monitoring adaptation is associated with at least one of PDCCH skipping or SSSG switching. The UE may then adapt PDCCH monitoring performed by the UE according to the PDCCH monitoring adaptation indicated in the LP-WUS. In some examples, by providing an LP-WUS indicating a PDCCH monitoring adaptation, the described techniques can be used to reduce or eliminate the use of CCEs in association with indicating PDCCH monitoring adaptations.