Terminal Timing Control for Base Station Sleep Mode Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in reducing energy consumption of base stations while minimizing communication delay, particularly in achieving carbon neutrality and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Innovation Solution

Implementing a terminal with a control unit that enables or disables transmitter and receiver units in base stations based on discontinuous transmission and reception functions, using control information to manage channel transmission and reception during inactive periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If base stations perform discontinuous transmission and reception to reduce energy consumption, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of base stationVSAvoidcommunication delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal dynamically adjusts its transmission and reception timing based on the base station's discontinuous operation state. The control unit determines whether to perform channel transmission and reception during inactive periods by receiving control information about the base station's transmission/reception state, allowing the system to adapt dynamically between energy saving and communication responsiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The base station transmits control information to the terminal about its discontinuous transmission and reception function state. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to adjust its behavior accordingly, preventing communication delays by informing the terminal when the base station is in inactive periods so it can schedule transmissions appropriately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4701277A1Terminal, base station, and communication method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4701277A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4701277A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4701277A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal includes: a control unit configured to expect that a base station is to perform: a discontinuous transmission function in which the base station enables or disables a transmitter unit; and a discontinuous reception function in which the base station enables or disables a receiver unit; a communication unit configured to perform transmission and reception to and from the base station, based on the expected discontinuous transmission function and discontinuous reception function; and a reception unit configured to receive control information related to the discontinuous transmission function and the discontinuous reception function. The control unit determines whether or not to perform transmission and reception of a channel during an inactive period of the discontinuous transmission function or the discontinuous reception function.