MAC-Triggered Temporary Reference Signals for Fast SCell Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining secondary cells in a wireless communication system leads to power drain at the user equipment (UE), necessitating a balance between performance benefits and power consumption through efficient SCell activation and deactivation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Medium Access Control (MAC) control element (CE) that triggers both SCell activation and temporary aperiodic reference signals, such as tracking reference signals (TRS) and CSI-RS, to facilitate fast SCell activation and deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SCell is maintained in an activated state to provide data transmission capability, then data transmission rate is improved, but power consumption at UE increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of SCell parameters and resources in advance, so that when activation is needed, the SCell can be quickly activated without extensive setup time. This allows the UE to maintain SCell in a low-power state while having all configuration elements ready for rapid activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic SCell activation and deactivation based on traffic conditions. The UE can switch between activated and deactivated states, adapting the SCell operational status to current data transmission needs, thereby optimizing the balance between data rate and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If SCell activation procedure is simplified to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration information including reference signal resources, measurement parameters, and transmission settings are pre-configured and stored at the UE before activation is needed. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for extensive configuration exchanges during activation, reducing both time and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and separates the configuration provisioning step from the activation step. Configuration is provided independently in advance, and activation only requires triggering the pre-configured SCell, thereby simplifying the activation procedure and reducing the time and power required.
3Speed
If SCell activation configuration is provided in advance, then activation speed is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures SCell parameters with local specificity, providing detailed configuration information only for the particular SCell being activated rather than general configurations. This targeted approach provides necessary activation information efficiently without excessive signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration information structure is designed to serve multiple purposes: it provides activation parameters, measurement configuration, and transmission settings in a unified configuration message. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate signaling messages needed, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining fast activation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) configured to receive secondary cell (SCell) activation configuration information from a first cell, receive a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) from the first cell, wherein the MAC CE indicates that a SCell state is to be changed from a deactivated state to an activated state and receive aperiodic reference signals from a secondary cell (SCell), wherein the reception of the aperiodic reference signals is triggered by the MAC CE.