Sidelink Wake-Up Signal Resource Configuration for Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR and LTE, face challenges in optimizing sidelink power consumption, leading to increased energy usage and reduced device battery life due to unnecessary wake-up and communication activities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing sidelink wake-up signals (WUS) that allow user equipment (UE) to determine and monitor specific resources for WUS transmissions, enabling devices to remain in a low power state longer and wake up only when necessary for communication, thereby reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If devices continuously monitor for communication opportunities, then communication responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where devices alternately sleep and wake to monitor for communications. During DRX cycles, devices periodically wake up to check for wake-up signals and data, then return to sleep mode. This periodic monitoring approach maintains communication responsiveness while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If devices wake up frequently to check for communications, then communication opportunities are not missed, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses wake-up signals transmitted before actual data communication to preliminarily indicate incoming communications. Devices monitor for these preliminary wake-up signals during DRX wake periods, and only fully activate communication resources when a wake-up signal is detected. This preliminary indication mechanism ensures reliable communication detection while minimizing the duration of high-power states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If devices remain in low power state longer, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system transmits wake-up signals in advance before actual data transmission. When data is pending transmission, the transmitting device sends a wake-up signal during the receiver's DRX wake period, allowing the receiver to wake up promptly for the subsequent data transmission. This preliminary notification reduces communication delay while maintaining energy efficiency by keeping devices in low-power states between wake-up cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11877240B2Considerations for sidelink (SL) wake up signals (WUSs)

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to techniques for sidelink (SL) power saving using SL wake up signals (WUSs). A method that may be performed by a user equipment (UE) includes determining resources for SL WUS transmissions from a second UE, based on a WUS resource configuration, monitoring the resources for an SL WUS from the second UE, and participating in SL communications with the second UE if an SL WUS is detected during the monitoring.