5G UE PDCCH Monitoring and SCell Control for Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in optimizing UE power consumption and dual connectivity, particularly in monitoring PDCCH candidates and managing secondary cells, which can penalize network operation and increase power usage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves indicating to UEs whether to monitor PDCCH candidates for multiple C-DRX periods, providing preferred configurations for transmissions and receptions, enabling fast activation/deactivation of secondary cells, and adapting slot timing values K1 for HARQ-ACK codebook determination, along with dynamic processing time adjustments for PDSCH/PUSCH scheduling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If UEs monitor PDCCH candidates continuously to maintain network responsiveness, then network operation efficiency is improved, but UE power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where UEs alternate between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During active periods, UEs monitor PDCCH candidates to receive scheduling assignments; during sleep periods, monitoring is suspended to conserve power. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by maintaining network responsiveness during active periods while reducing power consumption during sleep periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the number of PDCCH candidates monitored and the duration of active periods based on traffic conditions and UE power status. The network can configure different monitoring parameters for different UEs and adjust these parameters over time based on channel conditions and data arrival patterns, allowing the system to adapt between power efficiency and responsiveness requirements.
2Reliability
If UEs monitor a large number of PDCCH candidates to ensure reliable reception, then reception reliability is improved, but processing complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different monitoring configurations to different UEs based on their specific requirements, channel conditions, and power capabilities. Instead of uniform monitoring for all UEs, the network configures UE-specific parameters including the number of PDCCH candidates, search space sets, and monitoring periodicity. This localized approach allows each UE to monitor only the necessary number of candidates for its reliability requirements, reducing overall processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes monitoring parameters dynamically based on channel quality and traffic conditions. When channel conditions are good, fewer PDCCH candidates need to be monitored to achieve the same reliability. The network adjusts parameters such as aggregation level, number of candidates, and monitoring frequency to match current conditions, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing processing complexity and power consumption.
3Productivity
If secondary cells are activated to increase data throughput, then productivity is improved, but power consumption and network management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic activation and deactivation of secondary cells (SCells) based on data traffic requirements and UE power status. The network can activate SCells when high throughput is needed and deactivate them when traffic is light or power saving is prioritized. This dynamic management allows the system to scale resource usage and power consumption according to actual needs, resolving the contradiction between productivity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cellular network into a primary cell (PCell) and multiple secondary cells (SCells) that can be independently activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows selective activation of only the necessary cells based on traffic requirements, rather than keeping all cells active continuously. The PCell remains active for basic control functions while SCells are activated only when additional throughput is needed, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining productivity when required.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. Methods, user equipment (UE), and base stations for reception or transmission of physical downlink control channels (PDCCH) associated with a master node (MN) or with a secondary node (SN) are provided.