5G NR Timer-Controlled Downlink During Measurement Gaps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G NR systems, user equipment (UE) with insufficient receiver bandwidth faces interruptions in downlink communication during measurement gaps for inter-frequency signal measurement, leading to latency issues, particularly for low-latency services like URLLC, as it cannot simultaneously perform data transmission with the serving cell.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a data transmission method where UE and base station start timers before measurement gaps to maintain downlink communication, allowing continuous service transmission during the timer's running period, thereby avoiding interruptions and reducing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs inter-frequency signal measurement during measurement gaps, then mobility measurement capability is improved, but downlink communication continuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility measurement capabilityVSAvoiddownlink communication continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits DCI scheduling downlink data before the measurement gap starts, and the UE starts a timer upon receiving the DCI. This preliminary action ensures that data transmission is initiated before the measurement gap interrupts communication, allowing the UE to maintain downlink communication continuity while performing mobility measurements during the measurement gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs inter-frequency signal measurement during measurement gaps, then neighbor cell measurement capability is improved, but transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneighbor cell measurement capabilityVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The timer mechanism ensures that downlink communication continues uninterrupted during the measurement gap. By maintaining the timer running throughout the measurement gap period, the UE can perform neighbor cell measurements without stopping the downlink data reception, thus eliminating the latency that would otherwise occur due to communication interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If UE receiver bandwidth covers both serving cell and neighbor cell frequencies, then simultaneous reception capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous reception capabilityVSAvoidreceiver bandwidth requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solution segments the reception process into two separate time periods: normal operation when the UE receives downlink data from the serving cell, and measurement gaps when the UE tunes to neighbor cell frequencies. This temporal segmentation allows the UE to perform mobility measurements without requiring a wide enough receiver bandwidth to cover both frequencies simultaneously, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement gaps are configured periodically with a specific periodicity (e.g., 40ms) and duration (e.g., 6ms). This periodic action allows the UE to intermittently switch to neighbor cell frequencies for measurement without requiring continuous wide bandwidth coverage. The periodic measurement gaps provide dedicated time for mobility measurements while maintaining normal downlink communication at other times, resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and receiver bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12464532B2Data transmission method and apparatus, and communication device

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a data transmission method and apparatus, and a communication device. The method includes: during a first time length prior to a start moment of a measurement gap, receiving Downlink Control Information (DCI); in response to determining that the DCI schedules transmission of a predetermined service, starting a first timer; during a period when the first timer is running, keeping downlink communication with a serving cell, where the downlink communication includes transmitting the predetermined service.