Mobile Device Power Saving Through Tiered System Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in IoT networks over Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), face significant power consumption issues due to frequent System Information (SI) reception, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring, and inefficient cell reselection processes, which are exacerbated by high round trip times and large coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tiered system information structure, optimizing PDCCH monitoring, and utilizing preference indications and cell reselection offsets to reduce power consumption in mobile devices by minimizing unnecessary SI acquisition and PDCCH monitoring, and prioritizing cell selection based on network topology and load information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices frequently monitor control channels and receive system information in NTN environments, then network connectivity and service availability are maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where the mobile device alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During DRX cycles, the device monitors control channels only at specific intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining network connectivity. The device wakes up at predetermined intervals to check for paging messages and system information updates, then returns to sleep mode when no updates are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes wake-up signals (WUS) that are transmitted before the actual paging or system information messages. The mobile device monitors for these preliminary wake-up signals during low-power states, and only activates full reception circuits when a wake-up signal is detected. This preliminary action allows the device to remain in low-power mode during periods when no network communications are expected.
2Measurement precision
If mobile devices perform comprehensive cell measurements and reselection processes, then cell selection accuracy and service quality are improved, but power consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cell reselection priority mechanisms where different cell types (terrestrial vs. non-terrestrial) are assigned different priorities based on local network conditions and service requirements. The mobile device performs measurements and selects cells according to these predefined priorities rather than uniformly evaluating all cells. This allows the device to focus measurement resources on high-priority cells while reducing measurements on low-priority cells, improving efficiency while maintaining selection accuracy.
3Reliability
If mobile devices monitor all N control channel monitoring occasions in RTT duration, then control channel reception reliability is ensured, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanism where the mobile device monitors for at most (N-1) control channel monitoring occasions in a time duration corresponding to the round trip time (RTT), rather than all N occasions. The network compensates for this reduced monitoring by ensuring that control information is transmitted in a manner that guarantees reliable delivery within the reduced monitoring window. This partial action approach reduces power consumption while maintaining reception reliability through network-side adaptations.
4Manufacturing precision
If mobile devices acquire complete system information blocks, then network configuration accuracy is improved, but acquisition time and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments system information into different types and categories (e.g., minimum system information, additional system information, cell-specific parameters, network slicing parameters). The mobile device acquires only the necessary segments based on its current operational state and service requirements. For example, idle mode devices acquire only minimum system information needed for cell selection, while connected mode devices acquire additional information relevant to their active services. This segmentation reduces acquisition time and power consumption while maintaining configuration accuracy for required parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for power savings in mobile devices operating in mobile communication technology are described. An example method of wireless communication includes transmitting, by a first network node to a wireless device, a block of system information, wherein the block of system information is a block of system information of a first type, a block of system information of a second type, or a block of system information of a third type, wherein the block of system information of the first type comprises cell-specific parameters for cell selection or cell reselection by the wireless device, wherein the block of system information of the second type comprises parameters for connection setup or service setup, and wherein the block of system information of the third type comprises parameters associated with a change in system information.