SCell Dormancy Indication via PDCCH for Lower Application Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing application delay times after secondary cell dormancy indications, particularly in managing power consumption and monitoring behaviors of secondary cells (SCells) in carrier aggregation networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to indicate secondary cell (SCell) dormancy behavior, which can schedule data or provide dormancy indications, and selecting between these cases based on system configuration, along with using a PDCCH wake-up signal (PDCCH WUS) to alert UEs during DRX cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the network provides frequent dormancy indications to quickly switch SCell between dormancy and non-dormancy states, then the application delay time is reduced, but the power consumption and monitoring burden on UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication delay timeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures multiple PDCCH monitoring occasions and dormancy indication resources before actual SCell activation. When dormancy switching is needed, the UE can immediately use the pre-configured resources without waiting for resource allocation, thus reducing application delay while avoiding continuous monitoring of unnecessary channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of PDCCH monitoring behavior based on SCell dormancy state. When SCell is in dormancy, UE reduces or stops monitoring PDCCH on that cell; when activated, UE monitors according to configured occasions. This dynamic adaptation reduces power consumption during dormancy while enabling quick response when activation occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the network monitors all SCells continuously to quickly detect activation status, then the responsiveness is improved, but the power consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresponsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the patent implements periodic PDCCH monitoring at pre-configured occasions. The network sends dormancy indications only at these specific monitoring occasions, allowing UE to periodically check SCell status without continuous monitoring. This maintains responsiveness to dormancy state changes while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the monitoring duty by dividing time into specific monitoring occasions and non-monitoring periods. UE only activates monitoring functions at predetermined PDCCH occasions rather than continuously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability at monitoring points while reducing overall power consumption during non-monitoring intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250365661A1Secondary cell dormancy indication and application delay

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to wireless communications utilizing dormancy indications for secondary cells (SCells) and determining application delay times based on the dormancy indications.