RedCap UE Bandwidth Configuration to Reduce RF Retuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reduced capability user equipment (UEs) face excessive power consumption and RF retuning due to bandwidth limitations, as the total bandwidth of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) and control resource sets (CORESETs) often exceed their maximum capabilities, necessitating frequent adjustments to decode signals.

Innovation Solution

Implementing dedicated common control resource sets (CORESETs) and initial downlink bandwidth parts (DL BWPs) tailored for reduced capability UEs, along with simplified synchronization signal blocks, to reduce RF retuning and unnecessary decoding, and using downlink control information (DCI) to indicate message applicability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If reduced capability UEs use standard bandwidth configurations for SSBs and CORESETs, then network compatibility is maintained, but power consumption increases and RF retuning is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth configuration by creating separate bandwidth parts (BWPs) - a first BWP for reduced capability UEs with narrower bandwidth, and a second BWP for normal UEs with standard bandwidth. This segmentation allows each UE type to operate in its optimized bandwidth range, reducing power consumption for RedCap UEs while maintaining network compatibility through the existence of standard BWPs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing tailored frequency domain resource configurations specifically for reduced capability UEs. The first BWP is locally optimized with narrower bandwidth and adjusted CORESET configurations suitable for RedCap devices, while the second BWP maintains standard configurations for normal UEs, allowing each group to benefit from locally optimized parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If reduced capability UEs monitor paging messages in standard frequency resources, then network compatibility is maintained, but RF retuning occurs increasing power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidRF retuning frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments frequency resources by allocating a dedicated first BWP for reduced capability UEs that contains the necessary paging resources. This segmentation ensures that RedCap UEs can monitor paging messages within their limited bandwidth capability without needing to retune to frequencies outside their operational range, while normal UEs continue using the second BWP.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the first BWP with appropriate frequency domain resources for paging messages before the UEs need to monitor them. The network configures the RedCap UEs with the first BWP parameters in advance, so when paging occurs, the UEs can immediately monitor within their configured bandwidth without requiring RF retuning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If reduced capability UEs decode messages in standard bandwidth, then message compatibility is ensured, but unnecessary decoding increases power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage compatibilityVSAvoidenergy for decoding

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring message transmission parameters specifically adapted for reduced capability UEs within the first BWP. The network can transmit paging messages and other control information in the first BWP with parameters optimized for RedCap devices' decoding capabilities, ensuring compatibility while reducing the decoding burden and energy consumption compared to standard bandwidth configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250294521A1Systems and methods for reducing UE power consumption

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Systems, methods and devices for reducing power consumption for reduced capability UEs can include using a dedicated common control resource set (CORESET) to reduce RF retuning in idle mode. The systems, methods and devices may include using the dedicated common CORESET and a dedicated initial downlink bandwidth part (DL BWP) to reduce RF retuning for reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices may include using dedicated initial DL BWP to reduce RF retuning for reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices include using simplified synchronization signal block (SSB) in DL BWP to reduce RF tuning by reduced capability UEs. The systems, methods and devices may include employing an indication in downlink control information (DCI) of whether the scheduled physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is for reduced capability UEs to avoid unnecessary PDSCH decoding.