Scell Dormancy Signaling via Pcell DCI for Faster NR Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication standards lack defined signaling for transitioning secondary cells (Scells) between dormancy-like and non-dormancy-like behavior, leading to inefficiencies in bandwidth part transitions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing OSI layer 1 (L1) signaling on a primary cell (Pcell) to indicate transitions to and from a dormant state for secondary cells (Scells), utilizing bitfields in DCI formats to efficiently manage Scell dormancy based on numerology and BWP configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If L1 signaling is implemented for Scell dormancy indication, then transition efficiency and bandwidth management are improved, but signaling complexity and protocol overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Scell dormancy indication function into existing L1 signaling structures (DCI formats and MAC CE commands) rather than creating a separate signaling mechanism. This integration allows efficient Scell state transitions while utilizing already-deployed signaling infrastructure, thereby improving transition efficiency without proportionally increasing overall signaling complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing L1 signaling structures multi-functional by enabling them to carry both traditional scheduling information and Scell dormancy indication bits. This universal approach allows the same signaling mechanisms to serve multiple purposes (resource allocation and dormancy control), improving productivity while avoiding the need for dedicated complexity-increasing signaling channels
2Loss of time
If dedicated DCI bits are added for dormancy indication, then Scell activation latency is reduced, but DCI format complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adding only the minimum necessary bits (1-2 bits) to DCI formats for dormancy indication, rather than redefining entire DCI structures. This selective addition achieves the goal of reducing activation latency while keeping the increase in DCI format complexity minimal and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter structure of existing DCI formats by introducing new bit fields for dormancy indication while maintaining the overall DCI framework. This parameter-level modification allows latency reduction through faster state transition signaling without fundamentally altering DCI complexity, as the changes are confined to specific fields rather than the entire format
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple Scell groups are monitored for dormancy, then bandwidth management flexibility is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments Scells into multiple groups and applies dormancy indication separately to each group using bitmaps. This segmentation enables flexible bandwidth management by allowing independent control of different Scell groups, while the bitmap representation keeps processing overhead manageable through compact data structures that efficiently encode group-level dormancy states
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a wireless device (22) configured to communicate with a network node(16) is provided. The wireless device (22) includes processing circuitry (84) configured to: receive downlink control information, DCI, from a primary cell, Pcell; determine that at least one bitfield in the DCI indicates a secondary cell Scell, dormancy; and cause the wireless device (22) to transition the Scell from one of to and from a dormant state based on the at least one bitfield, a timing of the transition being based on a numerology of at least one of the Pcell and Scell.