Sidelink DRX Inactivity Timers for Power-Efficient SL Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in optimizing the discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration for sidelink (SL) communications, especially in positioning use cases, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a separate inactivity timer configuration for positioning communications and non-positioning communications in user equipment (UE), allowing for tailored wake-up and sleep states based on specific duration settings to manage SL DRX effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a single inactivity timer is used for all sidelink communications, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power consumption efficiency deteriorates due to inability to optimize DRX states for different communication types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inactivity timer mechanism by introducing separate timers for positioning communications (positioningInactivityTimer) and non-positioning communications (sl-InactivityTimer). This segmentation allows independent optimization of DRX behavior for different communication types, enabling the UE to enter sleep state faster for non-positioning traffic while maintaining appropriate monitoring for positioning traffic, thus improving power consumption efficiency without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different timer values and DRX parameters specifically to positioning communications versus general sidelink communications. The positioningInactivityTimer can be configured with distinct duration values tailored to positioning requirements, allowing localized optimization of power efficiency for the positioning function without affecting other SL communications.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UE enters sleep state frequently to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to potential missed positioning messages
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the inactivity timer into positioning-specific and general-purpose timers, the patent ensures that positioning communications maintain appropriate active monitoring periods through the positioningInactivityTimer. This prevents premature sleep state transitions that would cause missed positioning messages, while still allowing aggressive sleep scheduling for non-positioning traffic to reduce overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes preliminary DRX configuration parameters including positioningInactivityTimer and sl-InactivityTimer before communications begin. These pre-configured timers ensure that the UE is in the appropriate wake state to receive positioning messages at expected intervals, preventing message loss while optimizing power usage through predetermined sleep schedules.
3Reliability
If a longer inactivity timer duration is used, then positioning message reception is improved, but power consumption increases due to extended wake states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by segmenting timer functionality: the positioningInactivityTimer uses longer duration values optimized for positioning message reception reliability, while the sl-InactivityTimer uses shorter values for general SL traffic. This allows the system to maintain high positioning reliability without extending wake states for non-positioning traffic, thereby controlling overall power consumption.
4Productivity
If separate inactivity timers are implemented for positioning and non-positioning communications, then resource utilization is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation does increase timer management complexity, the patent mitigates this by clearly defining separate configuration parameters (positioningInactivityTimer, sl-InactivityTimer) that map to distinct communication types. This structured segmentation enables efficient resource utilization by allowing independent optimization of DRX cycles for positioning versus general SL traffic, with the complexity increase being manageable through standardized configuration procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for SL DRX are provided. An example method may include receiving an SL DRX configuration comprising a first inactivity timer associated with a non-positioning communication and a second inactivity timer associated with a positioning communication, where the first inactivity timer corresponds to a first duration and the second inactivity timer corresponds to a second duration. The example method may further include entering a sleep state based on the SL DRX configuration. The example method may further include initiating a wake-up state from the sleep state to receive a message associated with scheduling a SL PRS. The example method may further include triggering a continuation of the wake-up state upon receiving the message to receive at least one subsequent transmission comprising the SL PRS, where a duration of the continuation of the wake-up state is based on the first duration or the second duration.