UE DRX Triggering Windows for Low-Power Channel State Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power saving techniques in UEs do not account for the processing times required for bandwidth adaptation and channel state information measurements, leading to inefficient power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method where a base station determines valid triggering mechanisms for UE adaptations by considering time offsets and windows, allowing the UE to ignore unnecessary commands and optimize power saving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the UE continuously monitors and executes triggering commands for bandwidth adaptation and channel state information measurements, then the system can respond quickly to channel changes, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to channel changesVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles where the UE alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During active time, the UE monitors for triggering commands; during non-active time, the UE ignores triggering commands and enters low-power state. This periodic on-off monitoring pattern reduces power consumption while maintaining the ability to respond to channel changes when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network configures the UE with DRX parameters and triggering command configurations in advance. The UE is pre-configured with multiple triggering commands for different bandwidth parts and channel state information measurement configurations, allowing it to quickly execute appropriate adaptations when triggered during active time without needing to process or decide in real-time, thus reducing processing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UE processes all triggering commands received during DRX cycles, then all potential adaptations can be executed, but processing time and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of adaptations executedVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and filters triggering commands based on the UE's current DRX state. During non-active time, the UE extracts and discards triggering commands without processing them. During active time, only relevant triggering commands are processed. This selective extraction approach maintains adaptability for when the UE is active while eliminating unnecessary processing during sleep periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the DRX cycle into distinct active time and non-active time portions, and further segments triggering commands into those to be processed and those to be ignored based on timing relationships. This segmentation allows the UE to handle different types of commands differently, processing only those received during active time and ignoring others, thus reducing overall processing time and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the UE monitors PDCCH continuously for triggering commands, then no adaptation opportunities are missed, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation execution reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic DRX cycles with defined active time intervals during which the UE monitors PDCCH for triggering commands. Outside these active intervals, the UE enters sleep mode and does not monitor PDCCH. The network schedules triggering commands to align with active time periods, ensuring reliable delivery of adaptations when the UE is actually monitoring, while significantly reducing power consumption during non-active periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Measurement precision

If the UE performs bandwidth adaptation and channel state information measurements frequently, then channel quality is maintained, but processing complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by performing bandwidth adaptation and channel state information measurements only when triggered during active time, rather than continuously. The UE executes a subset of possible adaptations based on received triggering commands and current channel conditions, achieving sufficient measurement precision for maintaining channel quality while reducing processing complexity and power consumption compared to continuous full-scale processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3790323B1Triggering channel state information outside active time
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3790323B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3790323B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3790323B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques of power saving in a UE include providing the UE with capability to determine validity of triggering mechanisms prior to the on portion of the DRX cycle. This capability includes a plurality of windows during which specified triggering mechanisms are valid. Along these lines, a UE receives DRX configuration data based on the capability information, including a determination of which triggering commands are active for the UE. The UE then starts monitoring wake-up signals, e.g., configured DCI format(s) on PDCCH that are valid based on determined windows, associated DCI formats, and triggering commands. Upon detection of a configured DCI format, the UE performs an adaptation operation according to determined, valid triggering commands.