NR Carrier Aggregation BWP Switching for PDCCH Monitoring Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In New Radio (NR) carrier aggregation, user equipment (UE) experiences significant power consumption while monitoring the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), which reduces battery life in mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the UE switches between two bandwidth parts (BWPs) for a secondary cell, with one BWP configured without PDCCH monitoring to reduce power consumption, and using a trigger signal to switch between these BWPs before data scheduling, allowing for faster access and minimizing PDCCH monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE monitors PDCCH continuously for data scheduling, then data reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the BWP into multiple segments (first BWP and second BWP) with different PDCCH monitoring configurations. The first BWP has PDCCH monitoring disabled while the second BWP has PDCCH monitoring enabled, allowing the UE to segment its monitoring activities across different BWPs rather than continuously monitoring a single BWP.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic switching between BWPs with different monitoring configurations. The UE alternates between a first BWP (no PDCCH monitoring) and a second BWP (PDCCH monitoring enabled) in periodic intervals, allowing it to maintain data reception capability while reducing overall power consumption through periodic rather than continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UE switches between BWPs to reduce PDCCH monitoring, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission interruption may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by configuring the UE with multiple BWPs and switching between them before data transmission actually occurs. The BWP switching is pre-configured and triggered in advance, ensuring that when data needs to be transmitted, the UE is already in the appropriate BWP (second BWP with PDCCH monitoring enabled) to receive scheduling information without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11228976B2Power saving for new radio carrier aggregation

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 HFI INNOVATION INC

AI summary

Various solutions for power saving for New Radio (NR) carrier aggregation in mobile communications are described. An apparatus receives, from a wireless network, a trigger signal. The apparatus switches between a first bandwidth part (BWP) and a second BWP of at least two BWPs for a secondary cell (SCell) in response to receiving the trigger signal. No physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring is configured for the first BWP while PDCCH monitoring is configured for the second BWP.