Network Node DRX Offset Alignment for Energy Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless network nodes often operate in continuous modes, leading to wasted energy and resources when their DRX/DTX cycles do not align with the connected mode cycles of user equipment (UE), resulting in inefficient power management and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Network nodes identify and align their DRX/DTX cycles with the connected mode cycles of UE by receiving and transmitting offset information, allowing them to switch between modes dynamically, thereby conserving energy and resources without requiring synchronization signal block changes and without impacting UEs in idle or inactive modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network nodes operate in continuous modes, then communication availability is maintained, but energy consumption increases and resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) and discontinuous transmission (DTX) cycles at the network node, where the node alternates between active and sleep states periodically. During active periods, the node communicates with UEs; during sleep periods, it conserves energy. The offset value determines the timing of these periodic cycles, enabling the node to wake up at specific intervals to check for incoming data or transmit pending data, thus balancing communication availability with energy conservation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If network nodes use DRX/DTX cycles, then energy consumption is reduced, but resource utilization becomes inefficient when cycles do not align with UE connected mode cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the network node receives information about the UE's connected mode DRX/DTX cycle characteristics and uses this feedback to determine an appropriate offset value for its own DRX/DTX cycles. This feedback loop enables the network node to adjust its cycling pattern to better align with the UE's activity patterns, ensuring that the node is awake when the UE needs to communicate while still maintaining energy savings during periods of low activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter (offset value) of the network node's DRX/DTX cycles based on the UE's connected mode cycle characteristics. By dynamically adjusting this parameter, the system optimizes the alignment between network node and UE cycles, improving resource utilization without sacrificing energy efficiency. The offset value acts as a configurable parameter that can be tuned to match different UE behavior patterns.
3Productivity
If network nodes align DRX/DTX cycles with UE connected mode cycles, then resource utilization improves, but system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an offset value as an intermediary parameter that mediates the synchronization between network node and UE cycles. Rather than requiring complex real-time synchronization protocols, the system uses this offset value to pre-align the DRX/DTX cycles. The offset acts as a simple timing reference that both the network node and UE can use to coordinate their active periods, reducing synchronization complexity while maintaining resource utilization benefits.
4Reliability
If network nodes continuously monitor for incoming data, then data reception reliability is maintained, but processing resources are wasted during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring at the network node, where the node wakes up at intervals determined by its DRX/DTX cycle and offset value to check for incoming data. During sleep periods, the node stops monitoring to conserve processing resources. This periodic approach maintains data reception reliability by ensuring the node is awake at predictable intervals when data is likely to arrive, while avoiding the continuous resource consumption of constant monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive an offset for a discontinuous reception (DRX) or discontinuous transmission (DTX) cycle of a network node, the offset being based at least in part on a connected mode DRX or DTX cycle of the UE. The UE may communicate with the network node in accordance with the DRX or DTX cycle of the network node and the offset for the DRX or DTX cycle of the network node. Numerous other aspects are described.