NR Idle Paging And Measurement Through Split DRX Wake Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing idle and inactive mode mobility requirements in New Radio (NR) systems do not adequately address the impacts on measurement requirements due to Paging Occasion (PO) collisions, leading to increased power consumption and reduced measurement performance in user equipment (UE).

Innovation Solution

The UE is configured to wake up more than once during a DRX cycle for successful paging reception and cell reselection measurements, with separate power-on windows for SSB reception/measurement and PO reception, optimizing power consumption and measurement performance by aligning SSB and PO configurations in Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the UE wakes up once per DRX cycle for paging reception, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement performance deteriorates due to PO collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmeasurement performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single wake-up period into multiple separate power-on windows within one DRX cycle. The first power-on window is dedicated to SSB reception and measurement, while the second power-on window is dedicated to PO reception. This segmentation allows the UE to perform measurements and paging reception at different times, avoiding PO collisions and enabling both functions to be performed effectively while maintaining power-efficient operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the UE performs measurements and paging reception simultaneously, then measurement performance is improved, but power consumption increases due to extended power-on duration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement performanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by scheduling measurements in the first power-on window and paging reception in the second power-on window within the DRX cycle. This periodic separation ensures that the UE performs measurement activities during designated time periods and enters low-power state between windows, achieving both measurement performance and power efficiency through time-division multiplexing of functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the UE extends power-on duration for AGC and synchronization, then paging reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing AGC and synchronization procedures during the first power-on window dedicated to SSB reception, before the second power-on window for PO reception. This preliminary preparation ensures that the UE is properly synchronized and gain-adjusted before paging reception, improving reliability while limiting the power-on duration in the second window to only what is necessary for actual paging message reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3811698B1Paging and measurement in NR idle
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 APPLE INC
  • EP3811698B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3811698B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3811698B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for user equipment (UE) idle mode operations. In embodiments, a UE wakes up more than once during a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle. Inter-frequency measurement requirements may be relaxed based on DRX cycle length. Some embodiments include radiofrequency (RF) circuitry warm-up overhead reduction by on-duration separation with RF circuitry switching pattern adaption. Some embodiments include and RF circuitry warm-up overhead reduction by adaptive synchronization signal block (SSB) reference symbol down-selection. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.