Per-Component-Carrier Discontinuous Reception Control for Mobile User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current discontinuous reception control methods in mobile communication systems with carrier aggregation are inefficient, leading to unnecessary battery consumption due to uniform timing requirements across all component carriers, even when traffic is unevenly distributed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where user equipment can transition to discontinuous reception mode based on individual timers for each component carrier or shared timers for secondary carriers, allowing for dynamic control of operation modes based on traffic conditions and explicit state control information from the base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If discontinuous reception control is applied uniformly across all component carriers, then the system maintains simple control logic, but battery energy consumption increases due to unnecessary continuous reception on carriers with no traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control of discontinuous reception by component carrier, allowing each CC to have independent DRX configuration. This enables the UE to enter discontinuous reception mode on specific CCs where traffic is absent while maintaining continuous reception on CCs with active traffic, thereby reducing overall power consumption without significantly increasing control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control mechanisms where the network can independently activate or deactivate DRX mode for each component carrier based on traffic conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize power consumption in real-time while maintaining relatively simple control logic through standardized procedures
2Ease of operation
If the user equipment transitions to discontinuous reception mode only when no downlink control signal is received for a constant time period on all component carriers, then the control mechanism remains uniform and simple, but battery energy is wasted due to keeping signal processors running on carriers with no traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the DRX control mechanism into per-component-carrier segments, allowing independent timer management and mode transitions for each CC. This segmentation enables the UE to transition to discontinuous reception on individual CCs where traffic is absent, eliminating unnecessary energy waste while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized per-CC procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different DRX configurations and timer settings for different component carriers based on their specific traffic characteristics. High-traffic CCs maintain continuous reception while low-traffic CCs use discontinuous reception, optimizing energy efficiency without compromising overall system operation
3Use of energy by moving object
If independent discontinuous reception control is implemented for each component carrier, then battery saving is optimized by allowing selective mode transitions, but device complexity increases due to multiple timer management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments timer management into per-component-carrier units, allowing independent DRX operation on each CC. While this increases power saving efficiency by enabling selective discontinuous reception, it also increases device complexity through multiple independent timer management requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal timer management mechanisms that can handle multiple component carriers through standardized procedures and configurations. This multi-functionality approach allows the same DRX framework to be applied across different CCs, managing complexity through reuse of established protocols and structures
Data Source
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AI summary
User equipment that is capable of communicating by using M (M is greater than or equal to 2) component carriers (CCs) includes N (N is greater than or equal to 2) communication units for executing radio communication with a base station by using each of the M CCs, a controller for individually controlling an operation mode of each of the N communication units; and a timer for reporting to the controller that a constant time period is elapsed without receiving a further control signal, after receiving, by a communication unit of the N communication units, a control signal from the base station. When a report from the timer is received for a specific communication unit of the N communication units, the controller controls the operation mode of the specific communication unit, so that the operation mode the specific communication unit discontinuously transitions to an active mode.