UE PDCCH Monitoring Control for Wireless Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently managing User Equipment (UE) power consumption, particularly in monitoring the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), which contributes significantly to battery drain without optimizing performance requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for controlling UE PDCCH monitoring behavior by configuring and switching Search Space Set Groups (SSSGs) and implementing PDCCH monitoring skipping behaviors, guided by base station coordination and UE capability, using explicit and implicit configuration messages to manage power consumption effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a UE monitors PDCCH in every slot to ensure continuous communication readiness, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE dynamically adjusts its PDCCH monitoring behavior based on the configured time window. During the window when the SS/PBCH block is not transmitted, the UE skips PDCCH monitoring to save power. When the SS/PBCH block is transmitted, the UE monitors PDCCH normally to ensure communication reliability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between continuous monitoring for reliability and power saving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network configures periodic time windows where SS/PBCH blocks are transmitted, and the UE periodically adjusts its monitoring behavior accordingly. During these periodic windows, the UE knows when to monitor and when to skip monitoring based on the configured pattern, achieving both power savings and maintained reliability through predictable periodic operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Speed

If a UE monitors PDCCH in every slot to ensure continuous communication readiness, then response speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE dynamically switches between monitoring and non-monitoring states based on the configured time window. During the non-transmission window, the UE enters a low-power state without monitoring, reducing power consumption. When transmission occurs, the UE immediately resumes monitoring to maintain response speed, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring for speed and power saving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network pre-configures the UE with time window information indicating when SS/PBCH blocks will be transmitted. The UE uses this preliminary information to proactively adjust its monitoring behavior, knowing in advance when to activate monitoring and when to save power, thereby maintaining response speed only when necessary and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the network transmits SS/PBCH block in every slot to ensure continuous system information availability, then system information availability is improved, but network energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information availabilityVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The network transmits SS/PBCH blocks periodically according to a configured pattern rather than in every slot. The network configures specific time windows where these blocks are transmitted, reducing overall transmission energy consumption while maintaining system information availability during these periodic intervals. This periodic transmission approach resolves the contradiction between continuous availability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network discards SS/PBCH block transmissions during time windows when they are not needed (when no UEs require system information updates), and recovers energy by not transmitting during these periods. The configured time window mechanism allows the network to selectively transmit only when necessary, reducing energy consumption while maintaining information availability when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4327584B1Method, device, and system for power saving in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 ZTE CORP
  • EP4327584B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4327584B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4327584B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure relates generally to a method, device, and system for saving UE power consumption in wireless communications. One method performed by a UE including receiving, from a wireless communication node, a configuration message comprising configuration information associated with a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring behavior set; receiving, from the wireless communication node, a control message indicating a PDCCH monitoring behavior from the PDCCH monitoring behavior set or a PDCCH monitoring behavior associated with the PDCCH monitoring behavior set; and determining the PDCCH monitoring behavior based on the control message.