Paging Occasion Bitmaps for 5G UE Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of determining paging occasions in 5G wireless systems is increased due to features like MIMO and flexible TDD patterns, leading to potential discrepancies and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

The network provides explicit information to the UE in the form of bitmaps or signaling to indicate the start of paging occasions within frames, considering subcarrier spacing and TDD configurations, allowing UEs to efficiently monitor these occasions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the network provides explicit paging occasion information through bitmaps or signaling, then paging occasion determination accuracy is improved, but message length and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging occasion determination accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The paging occasion information is segmented into multiple bitmaps, where each bitmap corresponds to a specific TDD configuration or subcarrier spacing. This allows the network to provide precise paging occasion indications for different configurations without including all possible configurations in a single message, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic selection of bitmap based on current TDD configuration and subcarrier spacing. The UE determines which bitmap to use based on active configuration parameters, allowing the system to adapt the signaling content to current operational conditions rather than transmitting static comprehensive information, thus reducing redundant signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If UEs monitor paging occasions in idle mode, then paging reception capability is maintained, but power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring where UEs wake up at specific paging occasions determined by the bitmaps to check for paging messages, then return to sleep mode. This periodic action pattern allows UEs to maintain paging reception capability by monitoring only at necessary intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing power consumption while ensuring reliable paging reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network provides preliminary paging occasion information through bitmaps before the UE needs to monitor. This allows the UE to pre-determine exactly when to wake up and monitor, avoiding unnecessary wake-ups and enabling more efficient power management by scheduling monitoring activities in advance based on the provided bitmap information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If paging occasion determination considers MIMO and flexible TDD patterns, then system compatibility is improved, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem compatibilityVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces bitmaps as an intermediary between the complex TDD configuration parameters and the UE paging occasion calculation. Instead of requiring the UE to directly process complex MIMO and flexible TDD pattern interactions, the network pre-calculates the paging occasions based on these parameters and encodes them in bitmaps. The UE simply decodes the bitmap to determine paging occasions, greatly reducing calculation complexity while maintaining compatibility with various TDD patterns and MIMO configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If UEs are aligned to different monitoring times, then resource efficiency is improved, but coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different bitmap configurations to different UEs based on their specific characteristics, service requirements, and current TDD configuration. Each UE receives tailored paging occasion information that optimizes its monitoring schedule locally, allowing resource-efficient distribution of monitoring loads across the network while the network coordinator manages the overall assignment strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3791646B1Paging occasion start determination
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3791646B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3791646B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3791646B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for monitoring occasions in a downlink, such as paging occasions. In some example embodiments, there may be provided an apparatus that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive information indicating a start of one or more paging occasions within at least a portion of a frame and monitor the one or more paging occasions in accordance with the received information. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.