NR Power Saving with Micro-Sleep and Dynamic BWP Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3GPP LTE and NR Rel. 15 systems require frequent PDCCH monitoring, leading to significant power consumption in UE devices, especially during CDRX cycles, with limited opportunities for micro-sleep and inefficient SCell activation/deactivation, and high false paging alarm rates in IDLE and INACTIVE states.

Innovation Solution

Implementing micro-sleep states with minimal monitoring on narrow BWPs, dynamic BWP switching, and adaptive PDCCH monitoring, along with SCell dormancy and bundled cell operations, using power-saving signals like GTS and wake-up signals to optimize power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent PDCCH monitoring is implemented to ensure reliable grant reception, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrant reception reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where the UE alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During DRX ON durations, the UE monitors PDCCH for grants; during DRX OFF durations, the UE enters micro-sleep state to conserve power. This periodic monitoring approach maintains grant reception reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic BWP switching where the UE can switch between narrow BWP (for power saving) and wide BWP (for high data rate) based on traffic conditions. The UE monitors PDCCH on narrow BWP during low activity to save power, and switches to wide BWP when grants are received or traffic increases, thus dynamically adapting power consumption to actual communication needs while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If narrow BWP is used for PDCCH monitoring to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic BWP switching between narrow and wide BWPs. The UE operates on narrow BWP during low-activity periods to minimize power consumption, and switches to wide BWP when traffic arrives or grants are received to maximize data transmission capacity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the trade-off between power saving and data capacity based on actual traffic conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent configures multiple BWPs in advance (narrow BWP for power saving, wide BWP for high capacity) and pre-sets the conditions for switching between them. The UE has predetermined BWP configurations ready, and switching decisions are made based on pre-configured triggers such as grant reception or traffic detection, enabling rapid adaptation without complex real-time decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If SCell is activated to provide additional radio resources, then data transmission capacity is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic SCell activation and deactivation based on traffic conditions and QoS requirements. The gNB can activate SCells when additional radio resources are needed to increase data capacity, and deactivate them when traffic decreases to reduce power consumption. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the trade-off between capacity and power consumption by activating SCells only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If PDCCH monitoring is performed during entire OnDuration to ensure no grants are missed, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrant reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements micro-sleep within DRX cycles where the UE monitors PDCCH at specific monitoring occasions rather than continuously throughout the entire OnDuration. The UE enters brief sleep periods between monitoring occasions, reducing power consumption while still detecting grants at critical moments. This periodic monitoring approach maintains reliability by checking for grants at key intervals while allowing power-saving micro-sleep in between.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12581413B2Power saving mechanisms in NR

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices may assist in power saving in new radio. For example, enable power savings during the connected mode discontinuous reception cycle of the RRC_CONNECTED state of a user equipment.