Scheduling Request Triggering for Measurement Gap Data Stalling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, data transmissions are inefficiently stalled due to incorrect assumptions about user equipment (UE) being in discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, caused by lack of measurement gap coordination between base stations, leading to inaccurate HARQ feedback and reduced data throughput.

Innovation Solution

The UE transmits a scheduling request to the serving base station after performing measurements, informing it that it is not in the DRX off duration and has data to transmit, by determining a decrease in received data or uplink grants before and after the measurement gap, thereby preventing incorrect assumptions about DRX mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the UE performs measurements during measurement gaps, then measurement accuracy is improved, but data transmission efficiency deteriorates due to incorrect DRX mode assumptions by the base station

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE provides feedback to the base station by transmitting a scheduling request after performing measurements, indicating that it is not in DRX off duration. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by informing the base station of the UE's actual state, preventing incorrect assumptions about DRX mode, and allowing data transmission to continue efficiently during measurement gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If the base station assumes the UE is in DRX off duration during measurement gaps, then energy saving is improved, but data throughput deteriorates due to stalled data transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy savingVSAvoiddata throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling request transmitted by the UE serves as feedback that corrects the base station's incorrect assumption about DRX mode. This allows the base station to maintain energy-saving DRX operation while avoiding data stalling, as the feedback mechanism ensures accurate state information is available when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the UE transmits scheduling requests frequently to indicate availability, then data transmission reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The UE transmits scheduling requests selectively rather than continuously - specifically after performing measurements when data becomes available. This partial action approach maintains reliability by ensuring the base station is informed of availability when it matters, while avoiding excessive signaling overhead that would result from frequent or continuous requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4238380B1Measurement gap and scheduling
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4238380B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4238380B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP4238380B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects are provided which allow a UE to trigger initiation of an SR procedure in response to a decrease in an amount of received data or uplink grants following a measurement gap. The UE receives data from a first base station. The UE performs a measurement of a downlink signal from a second base station based on a measurement configuration. The UE transmits a scheduling request in response to a decrease in at least one of an amount of received downlink data or a number of received grants to transmit uplink data after the measurement is performed. As a result, inefficient data stalls caused by erroneous DRX determinations by a base station may be avoided.