Sidelink DRX Timer Coordination for Faster HARQ Retransmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE and NR systems, the existing discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism causes delays in sidelink data retransmission due to the UE entering a sleep mode when a base station schedules sidelink data retransmission, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that includes configuring two timers, drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL and drx-RetransmissionTimerSL, for each sidelink HARQ process to keep the UE in an active mode for monitoring PDCCH scheduling retransmissions, thereby avoiding delays and improving retransmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If the UE enters sleep mode according to the existing DRX mechanism, then power consumption is reduced, but sidelink data retransmission delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidretransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the DRX operation into two independent timer mechanisms: drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL for managing the round-trip time period and drx-RetransmissionTimerSL for managing the retransmission monitoring period. This segmentation allows the UE to selectively monitor PDCCH only when retransmission is needed, rather than continuously monitoring or completely sleeping, thus resolving the contradiction between power saving and timely retransmission detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by configuring the drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL to expire before the drx-RetransmissionTimerSL starts. This ensures that the UE is already in active state and monitoring PDCCH before the actual retransmission occurs, eliminating the delay that would occur if the UE had to wake up from sleep mode after missing the retransmission scheduling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the UE continuously monitors the PDCCH, then retransmission timing is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretransmission delayVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through the DRX cycle structure with configured timers that periodically activate the UE to monitor PDCCH. Instead of continuous monitoring, the UE follows a periodic pattern defined by drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL and drx-RetransmissionTimerSL, activating only when these timers indicate potential retransmission events, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining timely retransmission response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the UE by introducing specific timer values (drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL and drx-RetransmissionTimerSL) that dynamically control the monitoring behavior. These parameter changes allow the system to adapt between continuous monitoring and sleep modes based on actual retransmission needs, optimizing the balance between power consumption and response timing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4358633B1Discontinuous reception method, related device, and system
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4358633B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4358633B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4358633B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

This application relates to a discontinuous reception method. In the first time unit, for example, the first symbol, after a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback occasion of a sidelink HARQ process, a first terminal may start a drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL and start a drx-RetransmissionTimerSL when the drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL expires. During running of the drx-RetransmissionTimerSL, the first terminal monitors a physical downlink control channel. In this way, sidelink retransmission efficiency can be improved, an increase of a sidelink retransmission delay can be avoided, and side link-based applications, such as unmanned driving, automatic driving, assisted driving, intelligent driving, networked driving, intelligent networked driving, and car sharing in the field of artificial intelligence can be better supported.