Secondary Cell Activation Using Timed Reference Signal Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in the activation of secondary cells due to lengthy activation timelines, which can be exacerbated by the need for precise timing and multiple procedural steps, leading to increased latency and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining and measuring reference signals based on specific timing for secondary cell activation, optimizing the process to reduce activation time and improve efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional secondary cell activation procedures are used with multiple procedural steps and precise timing requirements, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but activation time and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal measurement precisionVSAvoidsecondary cell activation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures the UE with reference signal resources and measurement timing configurations in advance before activation is needed. This preliminary setup allows the UE to have measurement capabilities ready, eliminating the need for extensive setup procedures during actual activation and reducing overall activation time while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If traditional secondary cell activation procedures are used with multiple procedural steps, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal measurement precisionVSAvoidactivation procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates the measurement configuration from the activation procedure itself. By configuring reference signal resources and measurement parameters independently in advance, the actual activation process is simplified to triggering pre-configured measurements, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining measurement precision through dedicated reference signal resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If traditional secondary cell activation procedures are used with multiple procedural steps, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal measurement precisionVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures periodic reference signal transmissions with specific periodicities and timing relationships. This periodic structure allows the UE to perform measurements efficiently at predetermined intervals without continuous monitoring, reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement precision through regularly spaced reference signal opportunities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4218339B1Reference signal based secondary cell activation
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4218339B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4218339B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4218339B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may determine a timing for a reference signal measurement. The UE may measure, for a secondary cell activation procedure, a reference signal based at least in part on determining the timing for the reference signal measurement. Numerous other aspects are provided.