NR Sidelink DRX Resource Allocation via Peer Assistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, user devices operating in discontinuous reception (DRX) mode over sidelinks face challenges in resource allocation when out-of-coverage, leading to increased power consumption and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

User devices obtain resources for transmission by receiving assistance information messages (AIM) from other devices during DRX cycles or through sensing in sidelink resource pools, allowing them to determine available resources for transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If user devices operate in DRX mode on sidelink, then power consumption is reduced, but resource allocation reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresource allocation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having devices perform sensing operations during ON durations to identify and reserve resources in advance before actual transmission needs arise. This allows devices to pre-determine available resources and notify others, ensuring reliable resource allocation while maintaining DRX power-saving benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where devices transmit assistance information messages containing sensing results and resource availability notifications to neighboring devices. This feedback loop enables reliable resource allocation by keeping other devices informed about available resources, allowing them to schedule transmissions accordingly while the sensing device remains in DRX mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If devices perform continuous sensing for resource allocation, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by scheduling sensing operations to occur only during ON durations of DRX cycles rather than continuously. Devices perform sensing periodically at designated times when they are awake, achieving sufficient resource allocation efficiency without the power consumption penalty of continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

By performing sensing actions during ON durations in advance, devices prepare resource allocation information ahead of time. This preliminary sensing allows efficient resource assignment to occur during subsequent OFF durations without requiring continuous sensing, thus improving productivity while reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If devices receive assistance information during ON duration only, then power consumption is reduced, but resource availability information becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresource availability information

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having devices transmit assistance information messages during ON durations before actual resource allocation is needed. This advance notification ensures that resource availability information is conveyed while the sensing device is still awake, preventing information loss and enabling efficient resource assignment during subsequent OFF durations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that resource availability information is transmitted and received across the complete DRX cycle. The assistance information message mechanism ensures that information flow continues effectively from the sensing device to neighboring devices, maintaining information continuity even during the transition between ON and OFF states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12464599B2NR sidelink discontinuous reception resource allocation

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

A user device, UE, for a wireless communication system communicates with one or more further UEs using a sidelink, SL. The UE is to operate in a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, mode. When being out-of-coverage, the UE is to obtain one or more resources available for a transmissionfrom an assistance information message, AIM, received from one or more of the further UEs during an ON duration of one or more DRX cycles, and/orby carrying out sensing in a set of sidelink resources or in a sidelink resource pool of the wireless communication system during an ON duration of one or more DRX cycles, and/orby carrying out sensing in a set of sidelink resources or in a sidelink resource pool of the wireless communication system during a listening duration.