RF Sensing Alignment with DRX Cycles for Power Savings

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G, face challenges in optimizing power usage and spectral efficiency for RF sensing operations, as base stations may not be able to participate in RF sensing during off periods of discontinuous reception or transmission cycles, limiting their ability to perform bistatic and monostatic sensing efficiently.

Innovation Solution

Aligning radio frequency sensing operations with base station discontinuous reception (DRX) and discontinuous transmission (DTX) cycles, allowing mobile devices to adapt RF sensing activities based on network cycles, and enabling power savings by ceasing sensing during off periods, while switching to neighboring nodes during these times for continued sensing operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If base stations operate continuously for RF sensing, then sensing reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by aligning RF sensing operations with the base station's discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles. The mobile device performs sensing during the base station's on-periods and switches to neighboring base stations during off-periods, creating a periodic sensing pattern that maintains reliability while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses neighboring base stations as intermediaries to maintain sensing continuity. When a base station is in its off-period, the mobile device temporarily uses neighboring base stations to perform sensing operations, ensuring that sensing reliability is maintained while the original base station saves power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If base stations participate in RF sensing during all periods, then spectral efficiency is improved, but power savings are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidpower savings

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by aligning RF sensing operations with the base station's discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles. The mobile device performs sensing during the base station's on-periods and switches to neighboring base stations during off-periods, creating a periodic sensing pattern that maintains reliability while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining RF sensing operations throughout all time periods. During base station on-periods, sensing occurs with the active base station; during off-periods, sensing continues with neighboring base stations, eliminating gaps in sensing coverage while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If mobile devices perform sensing during base station off-periods, then sensing continuity is improved, but base station power savings are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing continuityVSAvoidbase station power savings

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses neighboring base stations as intermediaries to maintain sensing continuity. When a base station is in its off-period, the mobile device temporarily uses neighboring base stations to perform sensing operations, ensuring that sensing reliability is maintained while the original base station saves power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining RF sensing operations throughout all time periods. During base station on-periods, sensing occurs with the active base station; during off-periods, sensing continues with neighboring base stations, eliminating gaps in sensing coverage while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20240430977A1Radio frequency sensing with power savings

Publication Date: 2024.12.26 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided for aligning radio frequency (RF) sensing operations with base station discontinuous reception (DRX) and discontinuous transmission (DTX) cycles. An example method for performing RF sensing operations with a wireless node according to the disclosure includes receiving discontinuous reception or discontinuous transmission information for the wireless node, determining one or more on periods and one or more off periods based on the discontinuous reception or the discontinuous transmission information, performing radio frequency sensing operations with the wireless node during the one or more on periods, and ceasing radio frequency sensing operations with the wireless node during the one or more off periods.