PDCCH Search Space Configuration for Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in optimizing power consumption and latency due to frequent monitoring of PDCCH occasions by UEs and network nodes, leading to high energy consumption and potential service latency issues.

Innovation Solution

Configuring multiple search space configurations for UEs with varying sparsity, time offsets, and durations, allowing nodes to dynamically switch between them based on data exchange levels and service requirements, enabling power-saving states and minimizing latency impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frequent PDCCH monitoring occasions are configured, then user throughput and cell data throughput are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser throughputVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the UE to switch between different search space configurations (first and second configurations) based on scheduling activity. The UE monitors which configuration is used and adapts its behavior accordingly, transitioning between dense and sparse monitoring modes to balance throughput and power consumption dynamically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action through the second search space configuration that uses a longer monitoring period (e.g., every 2nd, 4th, or 8th slot) compared to the first configuration. This periodic monitoring approach maintains connectivity while significantly reducing power consumption during low-activity periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of time

If frequent PDCCH monitoring occasions are configured, then latency is reduced, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling latencyVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between search space configurations based on the scheduling activity level. When scheduling occurs frequently, the first configuration with shorter monitoring period is used to minimize latency. When scheduling is sparse, the second configuration with longer monitoring period is activated to save power, thus dynamically balancing latency and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the monitoring period parameter of the search space configuration based on actual scheduling needs. By adjusting this key parameter between two configurations, the system optimizes the trade-off between response time (latency) and energy consumption according to current network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a dense search space configuration is used, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE dynamically adapts its search space configuration based on the scheduling pattern observed in previous slots. The UE maintains flexibility by having two configurations available and switching between them, ensuring it can respond to sudden scheduling needs while reducing power consumption during stable, low-activity periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the actual scheduling decisions made by the gNB to adjust the UE's monitoring behavior. The UE monitors which configuration is used and feeds this information back to adjust its future monitoring patterns, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes both flexibility and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240276480A1Search Space Configuration for PDCCH Capacity and Power Optimization

Publication Date: 2024.08.15 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A scheduling node assigns search space configurations to wireless devices to facilitate power-efficient operation of the wireless devices and the scheduling node. In an example method, a scheduling node configures (810) each of a plurality of wireless devices with two or more respective search space configurations for monitoring for scheduling messages, the two or more respective search space configurations for each wireless device differing with respect to at least one of sparsity in time of scheduling occasions, time offset of scheduling occasions, and duration of scheduling occasions. This configuring comprises assigning (815) search space configurations to the plurality of wireless devices such that a first subset of the assigned search space configurations have a first time offset and a second subset of the assigned search space configurations have a second time offset.