Timing Misalignment Signaling for Wireless Device Groups
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Unsynchronized direct control signaling between wireless communication devices leads to excessive power consumption, as devices must remain in an awake state for extended periods to detect signaling, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method where a radio node generates and transmits a message indicating a range of possible timing misalignment between groups of devices, allowing devices to tailor their monitoring periods for inter-group direct control signaling, reducing the need for prolonged awake states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices remain in an awake state for extended periods to detect unsynchronized direct control signaling, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having radio nodes generate and signal timing misalignment information in advance. This allows devices to prepare their monitoring schedules ahead of time, knowing when to expect signals from unsynchronized groups without needing to remain awake continuously, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where radio nodes transmit timing misalignment information about unsynchronized groups to other nodes. This feedback loop enables devices to adjust their monitoring behavior based on actual timing conditions, allowing them to monitor only during relevant time windows rather than continuously, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable detection.
2Loss of time
If devices monitor for direct control signaling continuously to ensure acceptable latency, then response time is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses preliminary action by pre-signaling timing misalignment information so that devices can advance their monitoring schedules. Instead of reacting to signals after they are transmitted, devices know in advance when unsynchronized groups will transmit, allowing them to monitor only during these predicted time windows, thus reducing latency while cutting power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making monitoring intervals adaptive rather than static. Devices dynamically adjust their monitoring schedules based on the signaled timing misalignment information, transitioning from continuous monitoring to intermittent monitoring at optimized intervals. This dynamic approach maintains acceptable response time while significantly reducing average power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system (10) comprises multiple groups (12) of wireless communication devices (14). The devices (14) within any given group (12) are synchronized to the same timing reference and devices (14) in different groups (12) are not synchronized to the same timing reference. A device (14) transmits direct control signaling to other devices (14) according to the timing reference of its group (12). A method in the system (10) is implemented by a radio node (16) associated with one of the groups (12). The method includes generating (110) a message that indicates, for each of one or more of the groups (12), a range of possible values for misalignment between the timing reference of that group (12) and a common timing reference. This range accounts for uncertainty in that misalignment. The method also entails transmitting (120) the message from the radio node (16).