Wireless Device Configuration for MTC Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting a large number of machine-type communication (MTC) devices due to high costs, energy consumption, and resource requirements, particularly in terms of retransmission schemes like HARQ and advanced receiver techniques, which are costly and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
Configuring wireless devices with optimized retransmission and advanced receiver configurations based on operational conditions, such as latency tolerance and data rate, to reduce power consumption and resource usage, including the option to deactivate or adjust HARQ and advanced receiver capabilities, and modify TTI bundling configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced receiver techniques and HARQ retransmission schemes are deployed to support MTC devices, then coverage and reliability are improved, but cost and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of MTC devices by introducing extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) cycles and adjusting uplink synchronization timing. These parameter changes allow devices to remain connected longer between transmissions, reducing the need for frequent retransmissions and advanced receiver processing, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining coverage reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of HARQ processes and retransmission parameters based on device-specific conditions such as mobility, channel quality, and traffic patterns. By dynamically adapting the complexity of receiver processing and retransmission schemes to actual needs, the system maintains reliability only where necessary, reducing overall energy consumption across the network
2Reliability
If HARQ operation is activated for MTC devices, then retransmission reliability is improved, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of HARQ parameters and retransmission settings before actual MTC communications begin. By pre-configuring appropriate HARQ process numbers, timing advance values, and retransmission windows based on predicted device behavior and channel conditions, the system avoids time-consuming runtime adjustments and reduces overall processing delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments HARQ operations into device-specific groups based on traffic patterns and channel conditions. Different HARQ configurations are applied to different device categories (e.g., stationary vs. mobile, high-data-rate vs. low-data-rate), allowing optimized retransmission timing for each segment without compromising overall system reliability
3Quantity of substance
If massive deployment of base stations is implemented to support large number of MTC devices, then coverage capacity is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing base station infrastructure universal for MTC support by implementing software-based configurations that enable legacy networks to handle MTC devices. Through unified parameter sets and standardized eDRX configurations, existing base stations can serve both traditional and MTC devices without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure, thereby supporting large numbers of devices without proportional increases in deployment complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods related to reducing a cost of operation and/or manufacture of wireless devices under appropriate conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless node in a cellular communication network determines a configuration for a wireless device. In one particular embodiment, the wireless device is a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device. The configuration includes at least one of a retransmission configuration and an advanced receiver configuration. The wireless device is then configured according to the configuration. In this way, the operation of the wireless device can be more cost efficient, particularly in terms of radio resource and energy efficiency, based on the conditions in which the wireless device is operated.