UE CDRX Sleep Timing for Early Uplink Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, user equipment (UE) experiences unnecessary power loss due to prolonged active states during uplink sessions and bandwidth part switching in connected mode discontinuous reception (CDRX) due to stagnant CDRX configurations, which are not efficiently managed by network reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
The UE proactively manages sleep duration by monitoring uplink channel parameters and re-transmission counts, allowing early entry into sleep mode when retransmissions are unlikely, thereby reducing power consumption during CDRX cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the retransmission timer value is increased to ensure reliable data transmission, then the reliability of data transmission is improved, but the power consumption of the UE increases due to prolonged active state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the CDRX configuration adaptive rather than static. The UE monitors uplink channel parameters (such as RSRP, RSRQ, SINR) and dynamically adjusts the CDRX inactivity timer and retransmission timer values based on current channel conditions. When channel conditions are good, the timers are reduced, allowing earlier sleep entry. When conditions deteriorate, timers are extended to ensure reliable transmission. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing both reliability and power consumption based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of CDRX configuration (specifically the inactivity timer and retransmission timer values) based on monitored uplink channel parameters. The UE adjusts these timer parameters dynamically - reducing them when channel quality is high to save power, and increasing them when channel quality degrades to maintain reliability. This parameter adaptation directly addresses the technical contradiction by allowing the system to operate at different points on the reliability-power consumption tradeoff curve depending on actual conditions.
2Device complexity
If the CDRX configuration remains stagnant during BWP switching, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power consumption increases due to unnecessary awake time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the UE to autonomously manage and adapt its CDRX configuration during BWP switching without requiring network reconfiguration. The UE monitors its own uplink channel conditions and automatically adjusts the CDRX timer parameters accordingly. This self-managed approach maintains low device complexity (no complex network coordination needed) while significantly reducing power consumption by allowing the UE to enter sleep mode earlier when channel conditions permit, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and power efficiency.
3Reliability
If the UE waits for network reconfiguration of CDRX after BWP switching, then the reliability of CDRX configuration is improved, but the response time deteriorates causing prolonged power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE proactively monitor uplink channel parameters and pre-adjust CDRX timer configurations based on predicted or current channel trends, rather than waiting for network reconfiguration. The UE performs the adaptation in advance or in real-time autonomously, eliminating the waiting time. This preliminary/self-directed action maintains configuration reliability through careful monitoring while dramatically reducing the time loss, allowing immediate optimization of power saving without network intervention delays.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for managing sleep duration in a 5th Generation (5G) and a user equipment (UE) are provided. The method includes sending, by the UE, a plurality of data packets to a network in a connected mode discontinuous reception (cDRX) cycle and detecting, by the UE, an initiation of a retransmission timer associated with the plurality of data packets. The method includes determining, by the UE, if a retransmission of at least one data packet the plurality of data packets is required, and causing, by the UE, to sleep before an expiry of the retransmission timer, in response to determining that the retransmission of the at least one data packet of the plurality of data packets is not required.