Satellite Access Power Saving Mode for IoT Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications systems, especially in non-terrestrial networks, satellite access often involves intentional coverage gaps, leading to inefficient power usage in user equipment (UEs) due to continuous network camping without awareness of discontinuous service coverage patterns, particularly in IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UEs) receive coverage assistance information indicating a discontinuous service coverage pattern, allowing them to enter a power saving mode during coverage gaps by determining and transmitting parameters such as active and inactive times, enabling reduced power consumption and efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UEs continuously camp on the satellite network, then network coverage and service availability are maintained, but power consumption increases and resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where UEs alternate between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. The network configures DRX parameters including on-duration, inactivity timer, and periodicity, allowing UEs to periodically wake up to check for paging messages or uplink data opportunities, then return to sleep mode. This periodic operation maintains network coverage availability while dramatically reducing UE power consumption during coverage gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the UE reception state configurable and adaptive rather than static. The network can dynamically adjust DRX parameters based on service requirements, UE mobility state, and network load. UEs can transition between different DRX configurations and wake-up patterns, allowing the system to optimize the balance between coverage availability and power consumption in real-time based on actual service needs.
2Speed
If UEs monitor for paging messages continuously, then service responsiveness is improved, but power consumption and unnecessary communication attempts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by implementing discontinuous reception (DRX) where UEs monitor paging messages only during specific periodic intervals rather than continuously. The network configures DRX parameters including on-duration timer, inactivity timer, and periodicity to define when UEs should wake up and monitor for paging. This maintains service responsiveness for time-critical communications while allowing UEs to sleep during predictable intervals, dramatically reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network pre-configure DRX parameters and wake-up patterns before UEs need to respond to paging. The network knows in advance when UEs will be monitoring and can schedule paging messages, uplink data opportunities, and resource allocations accordingly. This allows the system to maintain responsive service while UEs spend most time in low-power state, as the wake-up and monitoring schedule is predetermined and optimized.
3Reliability
If UEs attempt communication during coverage gaps, then connection reliability may be maintained, but resource utilization becomes inefficient and power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having UEs monitor for network indications of coverage gap patterns and adjust their transmission behavior accordingly. The network provides feedback through system information blocks (SIBs) or dedicated signaling about when coverage is available and when gaps are expected. UEs use this feedback to suppress transmissions during coverage gaps and concentrate communication attempts during active coverage periods, maintaining connection reliability while avoiding wasted power on futile transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network预先 provide coverage pattern information to UEs before the actual coverage gaps occur. Through system information or dedicated RRC signaling, the network informs UEs about the satellite's orbital position, predicted coverage windows, and gap patterns. UEs can then pre-adjust their communication behavior, buffering uplink data and scheduling transmissions only during predicted coverage periods, ensuring connection reliability while eliminating energy waste on transmissions during guaranteed coverage gaps.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A network entity (e.g., a satellite) may receive control signaling indicating a discontinuous service coverage at a user equipment (UE). The network entity may transmit coverage assistance information indicating a discontinuous service coverage pattern to the UE. The UE, the network entity, or both may determine one or more parameters for a power saving mode at the UE, such as a duration of an active time, a duration of an inactive time, a duration of a keep alive time, or a combination thereof based on the coverage assistance information. In some cases, the UE may transmit an indication of the power saving mode parameters to the network entity. The network entity may transmit a control message to the UE in accordance with the parameters.