Multi-Carrier DRX State Management for Wireless Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing multi-carrier and multi-cell operations, particularly in terms of discontinuous reception and transmission (DRX/DTX) to optimize battery life and throughput.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-carrier/multi-cell DRX/DTX operations, where user equipment (UE) can autonomously deactivate secondary carriers or cells based on inactivity timers, and explicitly activate or deactivate DRX/DTX and secondary carriers/cells upon network orders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control channels are maintained continuously to support always-on experience, then user connectivity and responsiveness are improved, but uplink noise rise increases and battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) and discontinuous transmission (DTX) mechanisms where the UE periodically switches between active and inactive states. During inactive periods, the UE stops monitoring downlink control channels and stops uplink transmissions, thereby reducing uplink noise rise and conserving battery power while maintaining the ability to quickly resume connectivity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the DRX/DTX operation modes based on traffic conditions, network configuration, and UE state. The UE can transition between different DRX cycles and DTX patterns, allowing the system to optimize the balance between connectivity responsiveness and noise reduction on a dynamic basis rather than using a fixed approach.
2Productivity
If multiple carriers are activated to increase system capacity and throughput, then data rate and bandwidth are improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-carrier operation into independently controllable cell groups, where each group can have its own DRX/DTX configuration. This allows the UE to manage multiple carriers more efficiently by grouping them logically and applying discontinuous reception/transmission patterns at the group level, reducing the overall complexity of multi-carrier management while maintaining high throughput capabilities.
3Use of energy by moving object
If discontinuous reception/transmission is implemented to save battery life and reduce noise rise, then energy efficiency is improved, but connection reestablishment delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by maintaining minimal monitoring and control channel reception during DRX inactive periods, and by pre-configuring DTX patterns that allow quick resumption. The UE keeps certain receivers in a low-power standby state rather than completely shutting down, enabling faster reactivation when traffic arrives without requiring full connection reestablishment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may configure at least one first state variable for controlling discontinuous reception (DRX) associated with a first group of cells, and at least one second state variable for controlling DRX associated with a second group of cells. In a further example, the first group of cells includes a plurality of cells and the second group of cells includes a different plurality of cells. The WTRU may perform a first DRX operation on the first group of cells based on the at least one first state variable. Also, the WTRU may a second DRX operation on the second group of cells based on the at least one second state variable. Further, the WTRU may receive a first order for DRX activation for the first group of cells. Moreover, the WTRU may activate DRX for the first group of cells based on the first order.