UE DRX Timer Alignment With Cell DTX/DRX Cycles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in aligning user equipment (UE) discontinuous reception (DRX) configurations with network node discontinuous transmission (DTX) configurations, leading to inefficiencies and energy waste due to misaligned activity states and missed communications.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) modifies DRX timers and maintains multiple activity states in conjunction with cell DTX/DRX cycles, allowing synchronized UE DRX cycles with cell DTX/DRX configurations, enabling efficient energy savings and reduced communication inefficiencies by entering sleep states while maintaining connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UE operates with independent DRX configuration without aligning to cell DTX/DRX cycles, then the UE maintains flexibility in its reception timing, but the UE fails to synchronize with cell activity states leading to increased energy consumption and potential communication reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The UE dynamically adjusts its DRX operation by modifying DRX timers (onDurationTimer, drx-InactivityTimer, drx-RetransmissionTimer) based on cell DTX/DRX cycle status. The UE transitions between different DRX behaviors: aligning with cell cycles when in coverage, using independent timing when out of coverage, and adjusting timers based on whether the cell is in active or non-active state, thereby optimizing both energy efficiency and communication reliability adaptively
Solution Approach 2:
The UE changes DRX parameter values (timer durations, cycle lengths) based on synchronization status with cell DTX/DRX cycles. When synchronized, the UE adopts cell-aligned timing parameters; when unsynchronized or out of coverage, the UE uses independent parameter sets. This parameter adaptation allows the UE to balance energy consumption and communication reliability according to actual network conditions
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UE aligns its DRX timing with cell DTX/DRX cycles, then the UE achieves synchronized activity states improving energy efficiency, but the UE may experience delays in receiving retransmission resources during cell DTX non-active times
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary actions by monitoring PDCCH during cell active periods and initiating retransmission procedures before cell DTX non-active periods begin. The UE starts drx-RetransmissionTimer in advance and prepares retransmission requests during synchronized active states, ensuring that retransmission resources are secured before the cell enters non-active state, thereby avoiding delays
Solution Approach 2:
The UE dynamically switches between aligned and independent DRX timing based on whether retransmission is pending. When retransmission resources are available during cell active state, the UE uses aligned timing for energy efficiency. When retransmission is needed during cell non-active state, the UE transitions to independent timing to promptly receive retransmission resources, thus dynamically balancing energy efficiency and time loss
3Reliability
If the UE monitors PDCCH continuously during cell active time, then the UE receives downlink communications reliably, but the UE increases power consumption during active periods
Solution Approach 1:
The UE implements periodic PDCCH monitoring aligned with cell DTX/DRX cycles, monitoring only during cell active periods and suspending monitoring during cell non-active periods. This periodic monitoring pattern, synchronized with cell activity, ensures reliable downlink reception during active times while eliminating unnecessary power consumption during non-active periods when no downlink transmissions occur
Solution Approach 2:
The UE changes PDCCH monitoring parameters (monitoring duration, monitoring frequency) based on cell active/non-active state. During cell active periods, the UE uses full monitoring parameters to ensure reliable reception. During cell non-active periods, the UE reduces or suspends monitoring, changing the monitoring parameter values to minimize power consumption while maintaining reliability during active periods
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. Some aspects relate generally to UE discontinuous reception (DRX) timing in association with a cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) configuration and/or a cell DRX configuration (“cell DTX/DRX configuration”). Some aspects more specifically relate to modifying one or more UE DRX timers in association with a cell DTX cycle and/or a cell DRX cycle (“cell DTX/DRX cycle”). For example, in some aspects, a UE may modify UE DRX timers to maintain a number of activity states in association with the cell DTX/DRX configuration. For example, the UE may maintain a UE active time, a UE DRX inactive time, a cell DTX non-active time, a cell DRX non-active time, and/or a cell DTX/DRX non-active time in association with the cell DTX/DRX configuration.