Sidelink Communication Using Cellular DRX Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies, such as LTE and NR, face challenges in optimizing sidelink communication efficiency and power consumption, particularly for devices that need to balance cellular and sidelink operations without continuous monitoring, which can lead to interference and battery drain issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration that allows user equipment (UE) to receive a DRX cycle from the base station, identifying a time window for sidelink communication based on this configuration, and utilizing sidelink resources within that window to conserve power and reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous monitoring is used for sidelink communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where the UE alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During active periods, the UE monitors sidelink control channels for incoming communications. During sleep periods, the UE refrains from monitoring to conserve battery power. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by providing reliable communication during active periods while reducing power consumption during sleep periods.
2Productivity
If continuous monitoring is used for sidelink communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but interference with cellular communications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent synchronizes sidelink monitoring with cellular DRX cycles, creating periodic windows for sidelink activity that align with cellular communication patterns. This ensures that sidelink monitoring occurs during designated time windows without continuously interfering with cellular uplink/downlink transmissions, thus maintaining communication efficiency while reducing interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts sidelink monitoring behavior based on the UE's cellular DRX state. When the UE is in cellular active time, sidelink monitoring is enabled; when in cellular inactive time, sidelink monitoring is suspended or reduced. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing sidelink efficiency according to cellular communication demands, minimizing interference.
3Use of energy by moving object
If DRX configuration is used for sidelink communication, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures DRX parameters (cycle length, active time duration, offset) in advance through network signaling or pre-configuration. These preliminary settings ensure that active monitoring periods are strategically positioned to capture time-critical sidelink communications while maintaining sleep periods for power savings. The preliminary configuration resolves the contradiction by optimizing the balance between power consumption and responsiveness before communication occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, a discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration to be used by the UE for cellular communication with the base station, wherein the DRX configuration indicates a DRX cycle that includes an active time during which the UE is to monitor a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and an inactive time during which the UE is to refrain from monitoring the PDCCH; identify a time window for sidelink communication with another UE based at least in part on the DRX configuration; and communicate using one or more sidelink resources in the identified time window. Numerous other aspects are provided.