Multi-Carrier PDCCH Skipping During DRX Active Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, consume significant power due to the need for continuous monitoring of physical downlink control channels (PDCCH) during active discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles, which requires uplink or downlink assignments, and PDCCH skipping is currently limited to a single component carrier.
Innovation Solution
Implementing PDCCH skipping without channel assignments and extending it to multiple component carriers, allowing UE to skip PDCCH monitoring for a duration of time based on configuration, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous PDCCH monitoring is performed during DRX active time, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic PDCCH monitoring during DRX active time rather than continuous monitoring. The UE monitors PDCCH only during specific monitoring occasions within the active time, skipping monitoring during other periods when no data transmission is expected. This periodic action reduces power consumption while maintaining communication reliability through strategic monitoring at critical intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies PDCCH skipping mechanism where the UE skips PDCCH monitoring for specific durations within DRX active time when no downlink or uplink data transmission is scheduled. This skipping mechanism allows the UE to enter a lower power state during these intervals while still maintaining the ability to receive control information when needed, thus reducing overall power consumption without compromising reliability.
2Device complexity
If PDCCH skipping is limited to single component carrier, then implementation complexity is low, but power saving efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends PDCCH skipping from single component carrier to multiple component carriers, making the skipping mechanism universal across all carriers. When the UE receives a skipping indication on one carrier, it can apply the same skipping logic to other carriers, maximizing power saving efficiency across the entire carrier aggregation setup without requiring separate complex handling for each carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the PDCCH skipping mechanism across multiple component carriers by treating them uniformly. Instead of managing skipping independently for each carrier, the system combines the skipping logic to apply simultaneously across all carriers, reducing the overall complexity of management while enhancing power saving efficiency through coordinated skipping across multiple carriers.
3Use of energy by moving object
If PDCCH monitoring is performed without resource assignment, then power consumption is reduced, but control information delivery may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network node configure DRX parameters and skipping indications in advance before actual data transmission occurs. The UE receives configuration information that specifies when PDCCH monitoring should be skipped and when it should be active, allowing the UE to prepare its monitoring schedule ahead of time. This ensures that control information delivery is maintained during critical periods while enabling power saving during predetermined intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network node monitors UE behavior and adjusts DRX configuration and skipping indications based on actual communication needs. The network receives feedback about data transmission patterns and modifies the skipping schedule accordingly, ensuring that PDCCH monitoring is skipped only when control information delivery is not critical. This feedback loop maintains reliability while maximizing power saving opportunities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for PDCCH skipping without channel assignments and on multiple component carriers are provided. An apparatus is configured to receive a configuration for DRX and to receive DCI within a DRX active time. The DCI indicates for the UE to skip PDCCH monitoring for a duration of time within the DRX active time and without a resource assignment for downlink or uplink. The UE is configured to skip monitoring for a PDCCH during the duration of time. Another apparatus is configured to receive a configuration indicating to apply PDCCH skipping to a component carriers(s) and to receive DCI in a component carrier indicating for the UE to skip PDCCH monitoring for a duration of time. The other apparatus is configured to skip monitoring for a PDCCH during the duration of time in the one or more component carriers based on the configuration.