Random Access Capability Signaling for Lower UE Energy Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

The wide range of capabilities among NR_REDCAP UEs, such as industrial sensors, actuators, and wearables, creates challenges during initial network access as their capabilities are unknown to the network, leading to inefficiencies and energy consumption issues.

Innovation Solution

Wireless devices and network nodes implement methods to transmit and receive early indications of device capabilities during the random-access procedure, using specific configurations that align with the UE's capabilities, such as bandwidth, antenna arrangements, and energy savings mechanisms, to optimize communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the network uses default configurations for all UEs during initial access, then network operation is simplified, but energy consumption increases and network efficiency decreases due to mismatched configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUE energy consumptionVSAvoidnetwork configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE transmits capability information during the random access procedure (Msg1 or Msg3) before full connection establishment, enabling the network to prepare appropriate configurations in advance. This preliminary action allows the network to avoid using default configurations and instead apply optimized configurations matched to the UE's actual capabilities, reducing energy consumption without significantly increasing network complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides feedback about its capabilities (bandwidth, antenna arrangements, energy savings mechanisms) during initial access, and the network uses this feedback to select appropriate configurations. This feedback loop enables the network to adapt configurations to individual UE capabilities, resolving the contradiction between simplified operation and optimized performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the network waits to determine UE capabilities after connection establishment, then configuration procedures are simplified, but access latency increases and network efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidinitial access latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Capability information is transmitted during the random access procedure (Msg1 or Msg3) before full connection establishment, enabling the network to determine UE capabilities earlier in the process. This preliminary determination of capabilities allows the network to configure appropriate parameters before data transmission begins, reducing access latency and improving network efficiency without complicating the overall connection procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the network uses wideband configurations for all UEs, then communication capacity is maximized, but energy consumption increases for UEs with narrowband capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidUE energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures communication parameters locally according to each UE's capabilities. UEs with narrowband capabilities receive narrowband configurations, while UEs with wideband capabilities receive wideband configurations. This localized configuration approach ensures that each UE uses only the bandwidth it needs, maximizing communication capacity for capable UEs while minimizing energy consumption for narrowband UEs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The network changes configuration parameters (bandwidth, antenna arrangements, subcarrier spacing) based on the UE's reported capabilities. By dynamically adjusting these parameters to match the UE's actual capabilities, the network ensures optimal communication capacity for each UE while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from over-provisioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If the network provides detailed capability-specific configurations, then communication optimization is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication optimizationVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Capability information is exchanged during the random access procedure (Msg1 or Msg3) before full RRC connection establishment. This preliminary exchange allows the network to prepare capability-specific configurations in advance, enabling detailed optimization without significantly increasing overall signaling overhead, as the capability information is obtained as part of the standard random access流程

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12568523B2Configuration for UE energy consumption reduction features

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Embodiments include methods for a wireless device configured for random access to a cell of a wireless network. Such methods include transmitting, to a network node during a random-access procedure in the cell, a first indication of at least one capability of the wireless device. Such methods also include communicating with the network node, in one or more subsequent messages of the random-access procedure, using a configuration corresponding to the at least one capability indicated by the first indication. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a network node configured to support random access by wireless devices, as well as wireless devices and network nodes configured to perform such methods.