SCell BWP Timer Control to Avoid Unnecessary State Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inefficient use of secondary cells (SCells) in wireless communication systems, particularly in 3GPP 5G NR technology, leading to unnecessary cell state transitions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method to control the activation and deactivation of SCells using radio resource control (RRC) messages and media access control (MAC) elements, with timers for managing bandwidth part (BWP) states, including dormant BWPs to minimize unnecessary transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If SCells are activated for carrier aggregation to increase data transfer rates, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple timer management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer rateVSAvoidtimer management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by differentiating timer management based on BWP type. For dormant BWPs, the sCellDeactivationTimer is not started, while for non-dormant BWPs, both sCellDeactivationTimer and bwp-InactivityTimer are started. This selective parameter configuration simplifies complexity while maintaining productivity benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple timers are managed for BWP and SCell control, then reliability is improved through precise state control, but loss of time increases due to additional state transitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate control accuracyVSAvoidstate transition delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the timer management requirement from general SCell control and applies it selectively only to non-dormant BWPs. By removing the timer management obligation for dormant BWPs, unnecessary state transitions are eliminated, reducing time loss while preserving reliable control where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of starting timers by default for all SCell activations, the patent inverts the approach by not starting the sCellDeactivationTimer for dormant BWPs. This inversion eliminates unnecessary timer-based state transitions and reduces time loss while maintaining control accuracy through alternative means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of time

If SCells are kept in standby state to reduce delays, then loss of time is reduced, but use of energy increases due to maintained readiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation delayVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments SCell operation into two distinct states: dormant BWP state (lower energy, longer activation time) and non-dormant BWP state (higher energy, immediate operation). This segmentation allows the system to optimize between energy consumption and time loss based on operational requirements, with dormant BWPs saving energy and non-dormant BWPs minimizing delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250344284A1Method and device for driving timers according to BWP type in wireless communication system

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method, performed by a terminal, of controlling activation of a secondary cell (SCell), the method including: receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message including information about a first timer for deactivation of a SCell and information about a second timer for deactivation of a bandwidth part (BWP) of the SCell; receiving a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) for changing a state of the SCell; and controlling the first timer and the second timer based on the MAC CE and the RRC message.